DHA Public Health Chief Nursing Officer Lunch and Learn Series: Top Morbidity Burdens and Causes of Death while in Military Service, U.S. Armed Forces

February 18, 2026

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) Public Health (PH) Chief Nursing Officer hosts a Lunch and Learn series for nursing staff assigned at DHA to provide an avenue for academic and professional discussion of articles of interest that transcends across PH nursing. This series disseminates new information throughout DHA PH nursing professionals to be shared in their engagement with Military Health System (MHS) nursing staff. The events will be hosted live via a dedicated TEAMS channel to allow for maximum participation. This iteration identifies the top health burdens and leading causes of death among active U.S. Service Members, comparing military mortality rates to the general population. It also explains the role of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division (AFHSD) and its data sources in comparing the health of recruit trainees and deployed personnel with the general active component population.

Target Audience

This activity provides continuing education for nurses. A certificate of attendance is available for other attendees.

Learning Objectives

  1. Learn Identify the top three morbidity burdens (injuries, mental health disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders) among active component U.S. Service Members.
  2. Describe the leading causes of death in the U.S. military and compare the all-cause mortality rate to the general U.S. population.
  3. Explain the role of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division (AFHSD) and the data sources used for health surveillance, such as the Defense Medical Surveillance System (DMSS).
  4. Compare the primary health burdens of recruit trainees and deployed service members with those of the general active component population.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ANCC

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Joint Accreditation/ Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) to provide this Continuing Nursing Education Course for a maximum of 1.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Attendance
Course opens: 
02/11/2026
Course expires: 
03/04/2026
Event starts: 
02/18/2026 - 11:30am EST
Event ends: 
02/18/2026 - 12:30pm EST
Add to calendar: 

Shauna Stahlman, PhD, MPH. Presenter has no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) relating to the course content or with ineligible companies to disclose.

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

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ANCC

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Joint Accreditation/ Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) to provide this Continuing Nursing Education Course for a maximum of 1.00 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Attendance
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Requirements: CE/CME certificates are awarded to participants who fully complete the activity, successfully submit the evaluation survey, and pass the posttest. The deadline to claim credit is Mar 4, 2026.

Access Code: Some activities require an access code to register or claim credit. Please contact the organization providing the activity for the access code. The Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) does not provide access codes.

Accommodations: Please contact the course instructor to inquire about accommodations. For additional accommodation requests and/or technical support, email [email protected].

Required Hardware/software