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Nearly 200 people focused on the future of healthcare in the commonwealth at the third annual Massachusetts Healthcare Summit, hosted by the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing on Nov. 12.

Held in the UMass Amherst Student Union, the event convened a diverse group of clinicians, educators, healthcare leaders, policymakers and elected officials, including state Sen. Jo Comerford and state Rep. Mindy Domb, who acted as the summit’s lead sponsors. Together, attendees explored scalable solutions addressing the impact of federal legislation on healthcare and research in local communities.

Throughout the summit, participants emphasized the importance of coming together to discuss the real-world challenges that hospitals, nursing homes and Massachusetts residents are facing amid sharp federal cuts and policy changes. Speakers agreed that staying transparent and open offers the best route to finding solutions.

“The summit is a real driver of ongoing collaboration and partnership to navigate challenges in healthcare,” said Marieb College of Nursing Dean Allison Vorderstrasse. “We look forward to continued work with communities and healthcare systems to drive solutions and prepare future nurses for areas of need, such as home-based care and outpatient care.”

Andy Shin, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Mass General Brigham, set the tone for robust discussions with his keynote address, “Navigating Headwinds in Healthcare: How Federal Policy and Market Forces are Colliding in Massachusetts.”

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Panel sessions featured leaders from Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Baystate Health and the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association discussing hospital leadership challenges; experts from Integritus Healthcare, the Center for Extended Care at Amherst, Mass General Brigham and the Massachusetts Senior Care Association addressing long-term care and home health; and a forward-looking conversation titled “Out-of-the-Box Solutions During Unprecedented Times,” featuring panelists from the Marieb College of Nursing, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

In addition to detailing many of the financial strains coming to hospitals and the projected loss in healthcare coverage, the panelists also discussed cuts to educational research. To combat some of the cuts the state is already facing, Gov. Maura Healey proposed the DRIVE Act last summer, a $400 million initiative “to preserve and advance Massachusetts’ competitiveness in discovery, research and innovation for a vibrant economy.”

At the summit, Comerford touted the DRIVE initiative and highlighted how research and innovation are integral to the Massachusetts economy. The bill requires approval from the state’s House and Senate to become law and authorize release of the funds.

“The discussions that we have had with nursing home administrators, nurse leaders and hospital executives regarding federal cuts to the healthcare system are really, truly tough,” said event organizer Olivia Frazier, executive director of strategic partnerships for the Marieb College of Nursing. “The bright side of this? We live in a state that values healthcare and education. It’s clear that our state government is not sitting on its heels.”

Following the summit, students engaged with regional healthcare employers at a Healthcare Workforce Career Fair, further connecting education and industry.