THE PITT

The show, "E.R." first aired when I began medical school in 1994. It has always been one of my favorite shows because it captured the excitement of working in a fast-paced, high-stress environment. It was not until I completed my residency rotation in the E.R. in Parkland that I truly appreciated how accurate the show's depiction of emergency medicine was. 

One the characters with whom I identified the most was a young, earnest medical student, John Carter, played by Noah Wylie. I cannot recall what happened to Carter when the show concluded. However, one can imagine that he might have grown up to be an E.R. attending.

The new show, "The Pitt," on Max stars Noah Wylie exactly twenty years later. Wylie is no longer Carter but rather a veteran E.R. attending named Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch. The show's 15 episodes take place over the course of a very eventful 15 hour shift. There is a memorable cast of characters, and we see many of the highs and lows of working in American medicine and living in American society today.

The episodes were released one at a time, and I could not wait to watch the next one. Last night, I watched the final episode of the first season, which was a barnburner. Simply put, "the Pitt" is the most accurate and compelling medical show I have ever seen. It can be graphic and heart-breaking but also life-affirming. Just like life.