Bastyr University is launching a series of six panel discussions designed to examine a broad spectrum of issues related to the state of the American health-care system. Titled “The Politics of Health in America,” the year-long series will cover such issues as policy reform and the corporatization of health care.

The series begins from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 22 with a moderated discussion on “Reforming Health: What Is Our Message?”

Hosted on Wednesday evenings in the university’s auditorium, all events are free and open to the public and feature a panel of at least three prominent regional health-care experts. Panelists for the first two discussions include: Stephen Bezruchka, MD, MPH, a senior lecturer at the University of Washington and an emergency-room physician in Seattle; Mary Conway, health and labor liaison for Senator Patty Murray; and Robert Crittenden, MD, MPH, and chief of family Medicine Service at Harborview Medical Center and former health-policy advisor for Washington state governor Booth Gardner.

“Bastyr University is extremely proud to bring together such a distinguished and knowledgeable group of experts for these important conversations. These are all the more critical given the state of our nation’s healthcare system,” says Daniel K. Church, Ph.D., president of Bastyr University.

The following is a schedule for the discussion series:

• Oct. 22, 6-8 p.m., “Reforming Health: What Is Our Message?”

• Nov. 12, 5:45-7:45 p.m., “Reforming Health: How Do We Communicate Our Message?”

• Jan. 28, time to be announced, “Reforming Health in a Post-Election America”

• Feb. 25, time to be announced, “Reforming Health: Issues in Federal Regulation”

• March, time and date to be announced, “Advancing Community Health”

Audience question-and-answer sessions will follow each panel discussion.