The Gist Healthcare Podcast ENCORE: Behind the scenes of The Pitt: A physician’s take on bringing accuracy to TV medicine
Sep 22, 2025
Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, an associate professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine, shares her journey as a medical consultant for the acclaimed HBO Max series The Pitt. She discusses her surprising first encounters with Noah Wyle and the show's writers, emphasizing her contributions to storylines about the sickle cell pain crisis and its reflection of racial disparities in emergency care. Dr. Owusu-Ansah highlights how the show's structure captures the essence of a real emergency department, bringing clinical realism to the screen.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Email To Writers' Room
- Sylvia Owusu-Ansah described how she was recruited via Hollywood Health and Society and first consulted by Zoom with writers and producers.
- She later visited John Wells Productions, met Noah Wyle, and saw several of her story ideas integrated into scripts.
Bring Clinicians Into Writers' Room Early
- If shows want accurate medical portrayals, hire clinicians to advise early in writing and keep them involved through production.
- Sylvia emphasized advisors should be consulted on demographics, disparities, and realistic clinical details.
Meeting The Cast In LA
- Sylvia recalled the surprise of meeting Noah Wyle in person when she visited the production studio in LA.
- She also screened her short film for the writers and spent several collective hours advising the team.