“The Pitt” is doctor-approved—literally
I spoke to Jacob Lentz, MD, after his overnight emergency department shift ended three hours later than it was supposed to.
"I got a couple of really sick patients right at the end,” he said. “So I stayed.” An hour-long commute later, Dr. Lentz found himself not in a trauma bay but on hold with his internet service provider, trying to find out why Wi-Fi wasn’t working.
It’s the kind of whiplash you’d expect from an emergency-room drama. In Dr. Lentz’s case, that comparison isn’t accidental – he serves as medical consultant for The Pitt, a hit HBO Max show widely praised for its realistic portrayal of emergency medicine.
Dr. Lentz’s role on the show mirrors what M Health Fairview emergency teams strive for every day: clinical excellence grounded in real-world compassion.
How did you become a medical consultant?
I grew up in Mahtomedi, Minn. and moved to California after college to become a television writer. I worked in television for about nine or 10 years before applying to medical school. I went to UCLA for medical school, did my residency there, and then got a job at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming, Minn., where I now work part time as an ER doctor.
I'm also an assistant professor at UCLA in emergency medicine. I got involved with The Pitt when a friend shared a post about a medical show looking for doctors with a background in television to consult.
What’s your role on the show?
I'm a technical consultant, so I go through the script and provide medical notes. I typically write about 25 pages of notes for a script that is about 70 pages.
For each scene, I make notes about what props are needed, who would be in the room, what the patient would look like, what the medical staff would be wearing, and what would be on the monitors or computer screens. For each medical scene, I plan the choreography – who's doing what and when.
I'm on set for each episode that I'm responsible for, answering questions and ensuring accuracy. Questions come up like, “Would you wear gloves to do this?” or “What would the patent be feeling in this situation?”
It’s a good job for a Minnesotan because I'm not the star of the show. I'm there to do a job. Like many Minnesotans, I prefer not to be the center of attention.
The show has gotten a lot of credit for being medically accurate. How does that make you feel?
I felt a lot of responsibility about presenting emergency medicine accurately, so hearing from doctors who watch the show has been really affirming.
I'm also glad it’s resonated with people who watch. I've heard that some patients are having more patience or empathy for ER doctors and a better understanding of how challenging the work can be.
It's also very cool to be part of a show that has such broad cultural reach. Some episodes have drawn viewership reminiscent of the 1990s when 20-30 million people watched a single episode.
A colleague also shared that a retired doctor watched the show and realized that he had some unprocessed emotions from his career that he needed to work through. Knowing that the show is promoting that kind of reflection is meaningful. I don't take credit for it, but I'm glad that the show itself has had that impact.
Are the scenarios dramatized for television?
No. I work in a few different hospitals, and these situations are very real. Every hospital has its own flavor and unique vibe. The tune’s a little bit different but the song’s the same. The writers have done a good job of capturing the broader reality of care in both urban and rural emergency departments where we are constantly working upstream.
The show is putting emergency room realities into the conversation.
I'm grateful for that because those realities matter. ERs across the country are seeing more patients rely on the ER for care that’s traditionally handled in primary care settings. That’s not what ERs are designed for, and it can create longer waits and understandable frustration. It’s a complex, system-wide issue, not a lack of effort or compassion from the people providing care.
What should we watch for in season 2?
I can confirm that there will be an ER pharmacist this season. Anyone who has worked with an ER pharmacist knows how valuable they are. Just like in season 1, the show continues to highlight roles such as social workers and mental health professionals. That speaks to the realism of the show.
The series also highlights the quiet, heroic work of nurses, who keep everything moving. Nursing is physically demanding, difficult work and the show does a good job honoring that contribution.
You’re also going to see deeper character development and psychological storylines. Some characters may not be exactly who audiences thought they were at the end of season 1.
What’s it like on set?
The set operates much like a well-functioning ER. In the ER, nurses, charge nurses, paramedics, the cleaning staff, social workers, and pharmacists work together with a shared goal of helping patients.
On set, it’s similar. Makeup, costume, set designers — everyone has a specific job to do, and they're really committed to doing it well. When everyone's rowing the boat in the same direction, you can get a lot done.
What can you tell us about Noah Wyle?
He’s very earnest and very genuine, and he really cares about the health care workforce. That’s part of what motivated him to do the show. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a bunch of doctors started reaching out to him to say his portrayal of Dr. John Carter on ER inspired them to pursue careers in medicine.
Emergency medicine shows up for people.
Emergency medicine is complex, human, and demanding, and it happens every day in communities across Minnesota. At M Health Fairview, we’re proud of Dr. Lentz and all of the physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and support teams who show up for patients when it matters most.
