Ensuring Service women receive gender-sensitive health care that meets their individual needs, and promotes their health, overall well-being, and readiness is a priority for the Department of Defense. In this panel discussion, leaders from within the Military Health System will discuss current efforts, research, and mechanisms to promote quality gender-sensitive health care. Included in this discussion is an overview of the women’s health structure within the Military Health System, policy updates, current women’s health research initiatives and clinical implementation of gender-sensitive care. Panelists will specifically discuss key areas of women’s health throughout the Service women’s military lifecycle and the importance of gender-sensitive care on individual and mission readiness. Included in this discussion is reproductive health; contraception, pregnancy and postpartum care, menopause; musculoskeletal injuries, behavioral health, the impact of interpersonal violence on women’s health and trauma-informed care.
•Summarize Military Health System efforts to support gender-inclusive behavioral health.
•Discuss depth and breadth of military women’s health research at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.
•Describe initiatives and clinical updates to improve access and delivery of quality health care to female Service members and beneficiaries.