2026 May CCSS: Operation Ready Families: Strong Families, Strong Force

May 7, 2026
Soldier consoling a child getting a shot

Clinical Communities Speaker Series 

Discover how empowering military families through targeted care and support systems promotes healthy households and a ready, resilient force. 

Virtual event on Thursday, May 7, 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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This event will explore the evidence-based practices in the care of the pediatric patient through educational content created by military and civilian subject matter experts specializing in bioethics, research, healthcare, and academia. Each session is designed to refine the quality of care, achieve the best outcomes, and improve population health in children and youth. Attending this continuing education opportunity will advance the practice, skills, and knowledge of the pediatric care provider across the MHS in service to children and families.
 

Session Agenda

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Physician Assistants, Optometrists, Social Workers*, Audiologists*, Speech Language Pathologists*, Psychologists, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Technicians, Registered Dieticians, Dietetic Technicians, Athletic Trainers, Case Managers, Certified Counselors, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapist Assistants, Kinesiotherapists, and Healthcare Executives across the MHS*. This activity is also approved for physicians who are board-certified with the American Board of Pediatrics.*

* Maximum number of credits available varies.

Presentation slides will be released immediately before each session.

 

Course summary
Course opens: 
04/06/2026
Course expires: 
05/21/2026
Event starts: 
05/07/2026 - 7:45am EDT
Event ends: 
05/07/2026 - 3:45pm EDT

May 2026 Clinical Communities Speaker Series (CCSS)
“Operation Ready Families: Strong Families, Strong Force”

Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 7:45am to 3:45pm EDT

   
Time (ET)Title/Speaker 
0745 – 0750

Welcome Remarks

David Smith, M.D.
Deputy Director, Defense Health Agency

0750 – 0800

Moderator

Dr. Gregory A. Leskin, Ph.D.
Director, National Center for Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
Military Veteran Families and Children
UCLA-National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
Los Angeles, Calif.

0800 – 0900Session 01: Mental Health Strategies for Pediatric Providers Working with Military Children and Youth
Scott Cypers, PhD
EDIS Supervisory Psychologist
Educational and Developmental Intervention Services
U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain
  1. Identify key diagnostic features and clinical presentations of anxiety in children and adolescents.
  2. Apply a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate approach to assessing overall mental health in youth.
  3. Demonstrate the use of non-stigmatizing, person-centered language when discussing mental health with pediatric patients and families.
  4. Analyze evidence-based strategies and skill-building interventions for the treatment and management of anxiety in youth.
0900 – 0910Break
0910 – 1010Session 02: Shifting Boundaries of Viability: Ethics, Innovation, and the Overton Window in the Care of Extremely Preterm Infants
Army Lt. Col. Jeanne Krick, MD, MA
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, USUHS
Consultant to the Surgeon General, Medical Ethics
Deputy Consultant to the Surgeon General, Pediatric Subspecialties
Program Director, Neonatology-Perinatology Fellowship
Brooke Army Medical Center
  1. Describe the ethical debates surrounding resuscitation at extremely premature gestational ages.
  2. Explore how uncertainty affects decision-making for these infants.
  3. Recognize the potential for bias when counseling at extremely premature gestational ages and mitigation strategies.
1010 – 1020Break
1020 – 1120Session 03: Shaping Tomorrow’s Force: Addressing Pediatric Obesity Today

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kristan E. (Betsy) Madison, MD, MS, FAAP, DABOM, DipABLM
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics
Director of Pediatric Grand Rounds
Uniform Services University
Director of the Healthy Habits Child Obesity Clinic
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Md.

  1. Describe current trends in pediatric and active-duty obesity and explain their implications for future military readiness.
  2. Identify gaps in early recognition and diagnosis of pediatric obesity, including delays highlighted in recent research and clinical practice.
  3. Apply evidence-based, family-centered counseling strategies—including lifestyle medicine principles—to improve nutrition and weight management in pediatric populations within military settings.
1120 – 1130Break
1130 – 1230Session 04: Clinical Care Considerations for Military Children and Families: Unique Stressors and Developmental Impacts of a Parent’s Service
Army Col. Daniel C. Hart, MD
Command Psychiatrist
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Fort Bragg, N.C.

 

Ms. Faith Belt
Soldier and Family Wellness Division Chief
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Fort Bragg, N.C.
  1. Describe how the sense of purpose in military service impacts the prioritization of family throughout the course of a career in the military
  2. Explain through a developmental lens how parental and military stressors can result in predictable trends in military children
  3. Define age and developmentally appropriate strategies for mitigating the negative impacts of a parents military service and harnessing the benefits for resilience
1230 – 1330Break
1330 – 1430Session 05: Bridging Systems: Supporting Mental Health in Military Children Across School and Healthcare Settings
Ruth D. Boadi, MSW, LCSW-C
School-based Clinician
Child and Family Mental Health Services Clinic
Department of Mental Health
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center
Fort Meade, Md.
  1. Recognize how mental health concerns present in military-connected children, particularly internalizing symptoms and layered stress response
  2. Differentiate between diagnostic codes and how they help shape treatment of mental health disorders.
  3. Apply a context-first approach to assessment and collaboration using psychosocial history and cross system coordination to guide care
1430 – 1440Break
1440 – 1445

Administrative Remarks

Alna Gopez, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB
Training Specialist
J-7 Education and Training, DHA

1445 – 1545Session 06: Sleep Under Fire: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Sleep Issues in Military Children
Air Force, Lt. Col. Justyna T. Wadolowski, DO, MS
Regional Director
Developmental and Behavioral Family Readiness Center – Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)
Kadena Air Base, Japan

Air Force Maj. Adam S. Hodge, PhD
Chief of Psychology
Developmental and Behavioral Family Readiness Center - PACAF
Kadena Air Base, Japan
  1. Identify common sleep issues and risk factors effecting children and adolescents, particularly in military families.
  2. Explain the developmental importance of sleep and consequences of sleep insufficiency across pediatric domains.
  3. Apply multidisciplinary strategies to improve pediatric sleep outcomes

Featured Faculty

Headshot

David Smith, M.D.
Deputy Director,
Defense Health Agency

Headshot

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

Headshot

Gregory Leskin, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Director, National Center for Traumatic Stress Network
Military Veteran Families and Children
UCLA/Duke University’s National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

 

Presenting Faculty

Headshot

Scott Cypers, Ph.D.
EDIS Supervisory Psychologist
Educational and Developmental Intervention Services
U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, Spain

Headshot

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kristan (Betsy) E. Madison, M.D., M.S., FAAP, DABOM, DipABLM
Assistant Professor and Director of Pediatric Grand Rounds, Uniformed Services University
Director of the Healthy Habits Child Obesity Clinic,
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Headshot

Faith Belt
Soldier and Family Wellness Division Chief
U.S. Army Special Operations Command

 

Headshot

Air Force, Lt. Col. Justyna T. Wadolowski, DO, M.S.
Regional Director
Developmental and Behavioral Family Readiness Center – Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)

Headshot

Army Lt. Col. Jeanne Krick, MD, MA
Program Director, Neonatology-Perinatology Fellowship, SAUSHEC
Consultant to the Army Surgeon General, Medical Ethics

Headshot

Army Col. Daniel C. Hart, M.D.
Command Psychiatrist
U.S. Army Special Operations Command

Headshot

Ruth D. Boadi, MSW, LCSW-C
School-Based Clinician
Child and Family Mental Health Services Clinic
Department of Mental Health
Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center

Headshot

Air Force Maj. Adam S. Hodge, Ph.D.
Chief of Psychology
Developmental and Behavioral Family Readiness Center – PACAF

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.

Opening Remarks Speaker(s)

David Smith, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Moderator(s)

Gregory Leskin, PhD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Speaker(s)

Faith Belt

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Ruth Boadi, MSW, LCSW-C

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Scott Cypers, PhD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Army Colonel Daniel Hart, MD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Air Force Major Adam Hodge, PhD

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Army Lt. Col. Jeanne Krick, MD, MA

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Kristan Madison, MD, MS, FAAP, DABOM, DipABLM

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Justyna Wadolowski, DO, MS

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Closing Remarks Speaker(s)

Alna Gopez, MSN, BSN, RNC-OB

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
 
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You may proceed to claim credit for a session immediately after it ends.

How to claim CE/CME credit 
Credits are awarded by session. You may proceed to claim credit for a session you attend immediately after it ends. Click "Claim credit" next to the session below to take the course evaluation and posttest and receive your certificate.

You must claim credit before the deadline on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM ET

Live Session 01

1.00 CE/CME credit

  Eligible credit types
  • AAPA
  • ACPE
  • ADA CERP
  • ANCC
  • AOTA
  • APA
  • ARBO/COPE
  • ASHA
  • ASWB
  • BOC
  • CCM
  • CDR
  • COPSKT
  • NBCC
  • Non-physician CME
  • Physician CME
  • IPCE
  • Certificate of Attendance
Claim credit
You may proceed to claim credit after the session has ended.

9:10 AM – 10:10 AM ET

Live Session 02

1.00 CE/CME credit

  Eligible credit types
  • AAPA
  • ACPE
  • ADA CERP
  • ANCC
  • AOTA
  • APA
  • ARBO/COPE
  • ASWB
  • BOC
  • CCM
  • CDR
  • COPSKT
  • NBCC
  • Non-physician CME
  • Physician CME
  • IPCE
  • Certificate of Attendance
Claim credit
You may proceed to claim credit after the session has ended.

10:20 AM – 11:20 AM ET

Live Session 03

1.00 CE/CME credit

  Eligible credit types
  • AAPA
  • ACPE
  • ADA CERP
  • ANCC
  • AOTA
  • APA
  • ARBO/COPE
  • ASWB
  • BOC
  • CCM
  • CDR
  • COPSKT
  • NBCC
  • Non-physician CME
  • Physician CME
  • IPCE
  • Certificate of Attendance
Claim credit
You may proceed to claim credit after the session has ended.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET

Live Session 04

1.00 CE/CME credit

  Eligible credit types
  • AAPA
  • ACPE
  • ADA CERP
  • ANCC
  • AOTA
  • APA
  • ARBO/COPE
  • ASHA
  • ASWB
  • BOC
  • CCM
  • CDR
  • COPSKT
  • NBCC
  • Non-physician CME
  • Physician CME
  • IPCE
  • Certificate of Attendance
Claim credit
You may proceed to claim credit after the session has ended.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM ET

Live Session 05

1.00 CE/CME credit

  Eligible credit types
  • AAPA
  • ACHE
  • ACPE
  • ADA CERP
  • ANCC
  • AOTA
  • APA
  • ARBO/COPE
  • ASHA
  • ASWB
  • BOC
  • CCM
  • CDR
  • COPSKT
  • NBCC
  • Non-physician CME
  • Physician CME
  • IPCE
  • Certificate of Attendance
Claim credit
You may proceed to claim credit after the session has ended.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM ET

Live Session 06

1.00 CE/CME credit

  Eligible credit types
  • AAPA
  • ACPE
  • ADA CERP
  • ANCC
  • AOTA
  • APA
  • ARBO/COPE
  • ASHA
  • ASWB
  • BOC
  • CCM
  • CDR
  • COPSKT
  • NBCC
  • Non-physician CME
  • Physician CME
  • IPCE
  • Certificate of Attendance
Claim credit
You may proceed to claim credit after the session has ended.

 

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