22 things medical marketers love about ‘The Pitt,’ and one they don’t22 things medical marketers love about ‘The Pitt,’ and one they don’t

Just when you think no more superlatives can be found for The Pitt, medical marketers come up with some more. The Guardian has called the Max show “punchy, gory, and totally addictive,” in part because of producer/star Noah Wyle’s performance of “subtlety and intelligence.” The Movie Buff described the series as a “definitive portrait of the problems modern Americans face,” a view supported by The Los Angeles Review of Books, which argued that the show’s “literalism may be its superpower.” Vulture noted the viewing experience is such a “delight” that being interrupted while watching it can feel like a genuine frustration. (And this is a show you can pause and restart. Think about that.)

It’s no surprise the show has proven to be a runaway hit with the medical marketing community, as well as with HCPs. While the frontline emergency department workers of The Pitt are on a much different part of the healthcare spectrum than marketers, they all share a common goal: getting people healthy, and keeping them that way.

So we asked both groups: what’s so great about The Pitt? And we got answers. A lot of answers. Some of them were really insightful. But one thing is clear: if you’ll pardon the expression, The Pitt has touched a nerve. 

Here are 22 things medical marketers love about ‘The Pitt.’ And one they don’t.

Humans, not audiences: “The duality of The Pitt shows how behind every ‘target audience’ is a human story unfolding in real time. If we want to be truly effective, our narratives need to carry the same depth, urgency and empathy that clinicians bring to care every single day.” — Kamya Elawadhi, co-founder and president, Doceree

It shows how little time marketers actually have to make an impression on HCPs: “When we say we don’t believe providers have two seconds to give marketers, believe it. We have seconds to grab HCPs; attention, make an impression, and hope they can hang onto whatever we told them because they are endlessly pulled into so many directions.” — Tracy Blackwell, President of Marketing Services at Fingerpaint

The Pitt demonstrates just how much HCPs need to know to do their jobs: “The Pitt really gets the cognitive load of modern medicine. You see clinicians making high-stakes decisions in real time and without complete information, and that feels a lot closer to reality than the polished versions we usually get. Decisions aren’t made in isolation. The clinicians are constantly validating and piecing things together, often with the help of trusted tools, to move quickly and safely. That layer of decision-making rarely gets shown, but it’s where the real story is.” —Karen Philip, head of marketing, epocrates

Influencers! Brand Partners!: “I was impressed by how they dropped in a new angle about one of the characters (Dr. Javadi) being a TikTok influencer. The show has also included real-life physician influencers, and Figs scrubs as a brand partner.” — Missy Voronyak, founder, CEO, Voronyx

Validation: “The Pitt hits close to home in ways that are both humbling and, admittedly, validating. On a busy shift, seeing 25 or even 30 patients isn’t unusual, and the show does a remarkable job capturing the constant motion and split-second decisions that define emergency care. But what really stands out is that it doesn’t lose sight of the human side of medicine. Amid the chaos, it’s the moments where a physician slows down to deliver difficult news, to support a grieving family, or to make sure a patient feels seen that truly gives the show and this work their meaning.” — Amit Phull, MD, Doximity Chief Clinical Experience Officer, practicing emergency medicine physician

It’s therapeutic: “After going through a medical crisis, I’ve been strangely drawn to the orchestra of the operating room and the inner workings of the hospitals after seeing so much of it. My wife’s the opposite. She gets PTSD from all the beeping sounds.” — John Duffield, two-time open heart surgery patient, principal, Signal Two

Realistic blood and guts: “I’ve never before enjoyed watching a show through hands clamped over my eyes. I can watch 100 slasher movies and not blink but The Pitt is on-the-nose realistic blood and guts. But it’s never gratuitous.” — Mike Fazioli, project manager, Top of the Ninth

Life doesn’t wait: “When people need care, HCPs show up. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s what they do. It reminds us that behind every decision, every long shift, and every tough conversation is a real person.” — Sean Fitzgerald, VP product solutions, Precision AQ

Nurses finally get their props: “It does a good job of demonstrating that nurses are the cornerstone of our healthcare system, that there’s always a staffing shortage and the ethnically diverse group you have in our healthcare system.” — Grace Sweetser, MSN, family nurse practitioner, SSTAR

Dignity: “The Pitt gives us, through characters who aren’t on pedestals, layered reminders of why the experience of being seen, heard and taken seriously isn’t an ambitious nice-to-have. It is a foundational requirement of healthcare. Without that lens guiding our decision making, even the most significant scientific breakthroughs risk falling short of the patients who need them most. Great TV often holds up a mirror to society, forcing us to ask better questions of ourselves and each other. Much like dignity in health, it is a real-world barometer for whether patient centricity is being practiced or is merely an empty promise.” — Jewel Jones, global inclusion and health equity practice leader, Real Chemistry

It realistically shows the pressures and shortcomings of the healthcare system: “What stands out to me is how real it feels in terms of what it’s like to practice medicine today. I loved Grey’s Anatomy, but that was more of a soap opera. The Pitt brings in the actual pressures and shortcomings of the healthcare system, along with the realities of the world we’re living in. A kid nearly dies because his Medicaid ran out and he can’t afford his Symbicort inhaler. Another episode involves ICE bringing in a detainee injured during her arrest, which completely disrupts the ER. These are not side stories. They’re part of the environment, the same way they would be in real life.” — Susan Perlbachs, chief creative officer, Eversana Intouch

It depicts the chaos of a real ED and the implications for marketers: “We invest enormous resources helping HCPs understand why our brand matters, why it leads to better outcomes for the right patients. But The Pitt forces the real question: does any of that actually land in the chaos of practice? The true opportunity in pharma marketing isn’t just education, it’s enabling HCPs to recall and apply those learnings precisely at the moment of clinical decision-making.” — Tim Pantello, CEO, Relevate Health

It shows the very real issue of HCP burnout: “The show does an incredible job of addressing real issues like burnout and workplace violence in a way that feels intentional but still super engaging.” — Jared Rosen, senior media strategist, A0x3

Parts of it are filmed at a real hospital in Pittsburgh: “Some scenes in The Pitt are filmed at AHN Allegheny General Hospital whose real doctors and nurses served as inspiration for Dr. Robbie and Nurse Dana. And bravo to Allegheny Health Network for embracing a show that they knew wouldn’t always paint the sunniest picture of healthcare.” — Michael Baron, SVP healthcare specialty leader, Mower Agency

We still need humans: “When Dr. Santos uses ambient listening to help with her notes, we learn that AI makes errors, highlighting the importance of human oversight, preferably by someone who is not overworked, tired and burnt out. The Pitt highlights how AI can help clinicians, especially in a time-pressured, fast-paced, high cognitive load environment, and it also emphasizes the importance of a human expert in the loop.” — Dr. Roy Ziegelstein, MD, MACP, editor-in-chief, chief medical officer at DynaMed

A treasure trove of insights for marketers: “The Pitt has undeniably proven that television built on smarts, wit and genuinely compelling storytelling is not just alive, but thriving. And let me tell you, this show is a goldmine of insights. Like the tension between humanity and technology.” — Julie Hurvitz Aliaga, EVP, innovation, content and partnerships, CMI Media Group

HCPs actually watch it: “The providers in my life don’t watch it and roll their eyes. They feel seen by it and that means a lot to me. It shows healthcare as people actually experience it: fast, messy, emotionally demanding and deeply human. The show offers an incredibly authentic portrayal of a slice of a HCP’s day, especially those who are working in the ER. The more people understand what providers go through the more empathy we can have.” — Rachel Stoll, managing partner, Princeton10

Substance abuse isn’t a death sentence: “I love that The Pitt shows that colleagues with past substanceˇ abuse problems can turn their lives around and do great work.” — Louis Naimoli, VP, programmatic business development and strategy, Haymarket Media

Leadership: “Each episode feels like a case study in resilience, teamwork and accountability. There’s also a strong undercurrent of purpose, why people choose to do hard things even when the odds are against them. It reminds me that leadership, whether in a hospital or the C-suite, is about staying grounded while everything around you is moving fast.” — Michael Bruno, partner, TKJ Leadership

The return of appointment viewing: “For many, the show is “appointment tv” which for those of us who remember the days before you could binge an entire series in one evening. It’s a pleasant return to the pre-streaming days.” — Aaron Strout, author, host and executive producer of Reaching Higher podcast

Hope and empathy: “The pandemic briefly sparked a collective sense of empathy for healthcare workers. Remember the pots and pans in New York City? The Pitt keeps that connection alive by highlighting the dysfunction they face every day. We all know the healthcare system is broken in so many ways—from lack of access and extreme expense to the relentless staffing shortages that leave both providers and patients at a breaking point—but the show still manages to give us hope. We needed that during the pandemic, and we still need it today.” — Stephanie Agresta, managing director, Ascendancy Events

Narrative drives connection: “The Pitt does a great job of showing how emotionally grounded, patient-centric storytelling can make complex healthcare experiences feel human and relatable, The focus on real-world clinical pressure, ethical dilemmas and provider-patient dynamics mirrors the growing industry shift toward authenticity over polished, overly clinical messaging. It also highlights the importance of trust and transparency, critical in healthcare communications where credibility drives engagement. It serves as a blueprint for how narrative depth and realism can strengthen audience connection.” — Lexi Cendan, account executive, Ogilvy Health