2026 SEP CCSS: Mission Ready: Advancing Clinical Practice in Women’s Health & Obstetrics

September 24, 2026
Physician discussing anatomy with uniformed service member

Clinical Communities Speaker Series 

Explore innovative approaches, critical challenges, and emerging clinical guidance shaping women's health and obstetric care across the Military Health System.

Virtual event on Thursday, September 24, from 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM ET

Register Now

 


Overview

The Clinical Communities Speaker Series aims to advance the skills, strategies, and competence of healthcare providers and teams across the military health system. Virtual presentations draw on military and civilian experts from academia, government, and clinical care settings to address professional practice gaps among a wide range of healthcare professions. By focusing on clinical best practices, interprofessional learning, and military readiness, participants are empowered to optimize health outcomes for uniformed service members and their families through better individual and collaborative care practices. 

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Session Agenda

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Physician Associates/Physician Assistants, Social Workers, Psychologists, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Technicians, Registered Dieticians, Dietetic Technicians, Athletic Trainers, Case Managers, Certified Counselors, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, Kinesiotherapists, Healthcare Executives, and other health care professionals who support/care for U.S. active-duty service members, reservists, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, National Guardsmen, military veterans, and their families.

Presentation slides will be released immediately before each session.

 

Course summary

Course opens: 
08/20/2026
Course expires: 
10/08/2026
Event starts: 
09/24/2026 - 7:45am EDT
Event ends: 
09/24/2026 - 3:45pm EDT

Mission Ready: Advancing Clinical Practice in Women’s Health & Obstetrics

Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. ET

   
Time (ET)

Title and Speaker(s)

0745 – 0750

Welcome Remarks

Air Force Maj Kathleen Pombier, M.D., FACOG
Chief, Women's Health Clinical Management Team
Clinical Support Division, Medical Affairs
Assistant Director for Health Care Administration (J3)
Defense Health Agency
Falls Church, Va.

0750 – 0800

Moderator

Annette Beaudette, R.N., BSN
Centering Coordinator
Women’s Health Clinic
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital
Fort Campbell, Ky.

0800 – 0900

Session 01:  Breastfeeding: From Physiology to Clinical Practice and Beyond

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jena Glavy, M.D., FACOG, IBCLC
Medical Director, Mother Infant Care Center
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.
 

Monica Brannon, BSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC Inpatient Lactation Consultant
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.

  1. Review the public health implications of breastfeeding.
  2. Describe the anatomy and physiology of lactation.
  3. Recognize the role of health care providers in supporting breastfeeding.
  4. Apply evidence-based principles to the management of lactating patients.
  5. Discuss strategies to protect and support breastfeeding.
0900 – 0910Break
0910 – 1010Session 02: Obstetric Anesthesia Overview and Our Role in Peripartum Birth Trauma
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Janik, M.D.
Obstetric Anesthesiologist
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.

Air Force Maj. Courtney Hood, M.D., M.Ed.
Obstetrics Anesthesia Section Chief
Brooke Army Medical Center
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas
  1. Describe the role of an obstetric anesthesiologist.
  2. Discuss options for labor analgesia provided by anesthesiologists.
  3. Explain goals with anesthesia for cesarean delivery.
  4. Identify risks associated with labor analgesia and anesthesia for cesarean delivery.
  5. Describe the prevalence and consequences of pain during cesarean delivery.
  6. Create quality improvement initiatives aimed at decreasing the incidence of peripartum birth trauma.
1010 – 1020Break
1020 – 1120

Session 03: Against Medical Advice Forms: A Bridge or a Barrier? An Ethical Approach to Informed Refusal in Women’s Health

Army Capt. Alexa Vercelli, DO, Ph.D.
Chief Resident
Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.

  1. Differentiate an against medical advice form from the process of informed refusal and appropriate clinical documentation.
  2. Apply the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' RESPECT communication framework when patients decline medically recommended care.
  3. Use the BRIDGE framework to guide informed-refusal conversations, documentation, safety planning, and continued care in women’s health.
1120 – 1130Break
1130 – 1230Session 04: Chronic Conditions in Women: Perspectives Across the Life Course

Janine Austin Clayton, M.D., FARVO
National Institutes of Health Associate Director for Research
on Women’s Health
Director, Office of Research on Women’s Health
Bethesda, Md.

  1. Summarize how the Office of Research on Women’s Health supports biomedical research and its translation into primary care settings across the life course of women.
  2. Compare how sex differences affect women’s experiences with chronic and multiple chronic conditions.
  3. Characterize women’s health experiences across the life course: early adult, midlife, and mature adulthood.
1230 – 1330Break
1330 – 1430Session 05: Female Chronic Pelvic Pain: Considerations for Military Servicewomen
Air Force Col. Shana Miles, M.D., Ph.D. 
Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics Specialty Consultant
Brooke Army Medical Center
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Air Force Lt. Col. Christina Ramirez, M.D., FACOG, FACS
Division Chief, Urogynecology-Minimally Invasive
Gynecologic Surgery
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon
Brooke Army Medical Center
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Navy Lt. Michelle Vail, P.T., DPT, LAT, ATC
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Navy Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Va.
  1. Explain the difference between acute and chronic pain and how the difference impacts treatment.
  2. Describe the evaluation and management of endometriosis.
  3. Summarize how pelvic floor physical therapy is used to treat chronic pelvic pain.
  4. Outline when to refer patients for pelvic floor physical therapy.
1430 – 1440Break
1440 – 1445

Administrative Remarks

Alna Gopez, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB
Training Specialist
J-7 Education and Training
Defense Health Agency
Falls Church, Va.

1445 – 1545Session 06: Contraceptive Management
Sarah N. Abel, Pharm.D., MSCP
DHA Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Women’s Health
Clinical Pharmacist for Operational Medicine
Madigan Army Medical Center
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash
  1. Review a brief history of contraception.
  2. Describe the role of the provider in contraceptive care.
  3. Discuss contraceptives available.
  4. Outline current guidelines for contraceptive management.
  5. Apply knowledge to patient cases.

Featured Faculty

Air Force Maj Kathleen Pombier, M.D., FACOG
Chief, Women's Health Clinical Management Team
Clinical Support Division, Medical Affairs
Assistant Director for Health Care Administration (J3)
Defense Health Agency
Falls Church, Va.

Headshot

Alna Gopez, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB
Training Specialist
J-7 Education and Training
Defense Health Agency
Falls Church, Va.

Annette Beaudette, R.N., BSN
Centering Coordinator
Women’s Health Clinic
Blanchfield Army Community Hospital
Fort Campbell, Ky.

 

Presenting Faculty

Air Force Col. Shana Miles, M.D., Ph.D. 
Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics Specialty Consultant
Brooke Army Medical Center
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Navy Lt. Michelle Vail, P.T., DPT, LAT, ATC
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Navy Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Va.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Janik, M.D.
Obstetric Anesthesiologist 
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center 
Bethesda, Md.

 

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jena Glavy, M.D., FACOG, IBCLC
Medical Director, Mother Infant Care Center
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.

Janine Austin Clayton, M.D., FARVO 
National Institutes of Health
Associate Director for Research on Women’s Health
Director, Office of Research on Women’s Health
Bethesda, Md.

Air Force Lt. Col. Christine Ramirez, M.D., FACOG, FACS
Division Chief, Urogynecology-Minimally Invasive
Gynecologic Surgery
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon
Brooke Army Medical Center
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Army Capt. Alexa Vercelli, DO, Ph.D.
Chief Resident
Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.

Air Force Maj. Courtney Hood, M.D., M.Ed.
Obstetrics Anesthesia Section Chief
Brooke Army Medical Center
Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Monica Brannon, BSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC
Inpatient Lactation Consultant
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.

Sarah N. Abel, Pharm.D., MSCP
DHA Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Women’s Health
Clinical Pharmacist for Operational Medicine
Madigan Army Medical Center
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, planners, authors, faculty, and content reviewers for this educational activity have no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) relating to the course content or with ineligible companies to disclose. No commercial support was provided for this activity.

Speaker(s)

Air Force Major Courtney Hood, M.D., M.Ed.

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Zachary Janik, M.D.

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Navy Lieutenant Michelle Vail, P.T., DPT, LAT, ATC

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
 
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Requirements:  CE/CME certificates are awarded to MHS participants who fully complete the activity, successfully submit the evaluation survey, and pass the posttest with a minimum score of 80% unless noted otherwise. The deadline to claim credit is Oct 8, 2026.

For technical support, email [email protected].

 

There is no cost to participate in this activity.

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