PHO Rounds: The Health of the Canadian Armed Forces

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces have a somewhat unique employment situation. Although drawn from the general Canadian population, they are served by their own health care system as occupational exposures can lead to distinct health issues. Measuring health status before, during and after this career can be challenging. This session will review personnel structure, the military healthcare system including public health, common health problems affecting members of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as disease surveillance and prevention in this population.

Intended audience: Public health practitioners - nurses, health promoters, epidemiologists, physicians and managers working at local, provincial and federal levels

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the personnel structure of the Canadian Armed Forces
2. Describe the military health care system including public health
3. Discuss common health care problems affecting members of the Canadian Armed Forces
4. Discuss the approach to disease surveillance and prevention in the Canadian Armed Forces

About the presenters: Dr. Jeff Whitehead(right) and Dr. Maureen Carew(left)

Dr. Jeff Whitehead, MD MSc FRCPC, is the Acting Head of the Epidemiology Section in the Directorate of Force Health Protection. He retired in 2015 after spending most of his public health practice with the Department of National Defence. He returned earlier this year, temporarily, to help out with COVID-19.

Dr. Maureen Carew, MD MSc FRCPC, is a Public Health and Preventive Medicine physician currently working as Section Head for the Canadian Armed Forces Strengthening the Forces Health Promotion Program with the Directorate of Force Heath Protection. She has worked in public health at the regional, provincial and federal levels. She holds an appointment as an Adjunct Professor with the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa. Her areas of interest include chronic disease and injury surveillance, prevention and control, clinical screening and program planning and evaluation.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Accreditation

PHO Rounds are approved for continuing medical education from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. PHO Rounds are also approved by Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI). For more information, contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca .

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Accessibility

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca .