An uncertain future for health care reform has providers and patients asking, “What happens next?” Educating nurses and other health professionals about the future of health care will prepare them to work as informed advocates for patients and quality care.

A panel of experts will discuss health care reform at the first of two spring forums at Regis College in Weston. On March 21 at 6:30 p.m., “The Future of Health Reform: What Happens Next?” will examine the potential effects of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The event is free and open to the public.

The panel, moderated by Regis President Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN, includes: Amy Rosenthal, MPA, MPH, executive director at Health Care for All; William J. Graham, JD, senior vice president of Public Affairs and Government Programs at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care; Denise Garlick, BS, RN, Representative 13th Norfolk District; and Mary Ann Hart, DNP, RN, director of the Health Care Administration program at Regis.

“Regis has made a tradition of assessing health care reform every March, right around the time of the anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act,” said Hays. “It’s important for nurses and health care professionals to keep abreast of the scope of all the changes so they can take action and be advocates for their patients.”

Since 2007, the Regis President’s Lecture Series on Health has featured insight from industry experts that inform health care professionals and the public about contemporary health and wellness issues. The goal is for audiences to gain the knowledge needed to affect positive change.

Registration for the President’s Lecture Series on Health is available online at regiscollege.edu/aca or by calling 781.768.8080 by Friday, March 16.

This lecture series has been submitted to the American Nurses Association Massachusetts, for approval to award contact hours for nurses. The American Nurses Association Massachusetts is accredited as an approver of continuing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s COA. Application for Social Work continuing education contact hours has been submitted. Please contact hugh.clark@regiscollege.edu for the status of social work contact hours.