The popular Max TV medical drama The Pitt, which chronicles the lives of emergency room (ER) physicians at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, continues to captivate both audiences and critics. The show, which premiered in January 2025, presents each episode as a real-time hour in the ER staff’s 12-hour shift, offering a gritty and authentic portrayal of emergency medicine.
In the latest episode (Season 1, Episode 8, 2:00 P.M.), the ER team treats 81-year-old Willie Alexander, who is admitted with syncope and complications with his pacemaker. As the physicians work to diagnose and treat him, they are taken aback by Willie’s familiarity with medical procedures.
“Willie, we need to float a temporary pacemaker from your neck into your heart,” says Dr. Langdon, the second senior resident.
“Why is that?” Willie asks.
“Because your heart rate is only 30.”
“Then, uh, hit me with, uh, a shot of atropine.”
“You've already had three. Wait, are you a doctor?”
Willie’s insight continues to intrigue the staff, and he even recognizes the hospital, asking, “It’s Dr. Adamson’s place. Where’s he at? He working today?”
Head of the ER, Dr. Robby, digs deeper into Willie’s past and later learns from Willie’s son that he was once a medic for the Freedom House Ambulance Service.
“That’s incredible…That guy’s a legend,” Dr. Robby says with a smile.
The episode unfolds with Willie sharing the story of Freedom House, a pivotal chapter in Pittsburgh’s history and a source of pride for our department. Founded in 1967 by our department’s first and founding chair, Dr. Peter Safar, Freedom House Ambulance Service was the first emergency medical service in the United States to train paramedics with advanced medical knowledge beyond basic first aid. Significantly, the service was staffed entirely by African Americans, representing a transformative step forward in emergency medicine and social progress.
To learn more about this remarkable history, read our feature article, “Dr. Peter Safar: The Forgotten Heroes of Freedom House,” originally published in Spring 2011.
On Tuesday, February 24, 2025, at 6pm, Pitt Public Health is holding a special screening of this episode of The Pitt followed by a panel discussion with original members of Freedom House and local EMS leadership and health professionals - some who played essential roles advising The Pitt. Registration is required.