It might sound like a TV trope, but Grey’s Anatomy genuinely played a role in shaping my career as a surgeon. Watching Dr. Miranda Bailey, portrayed by the phenomenal Chandra Wilson, was a pivotal moment. Seeing a strong, Black woman excel in the demanding world of surgery, not just on screen but in a leading role, was incredibly impactful and broadened my perception of who could thrive in this field.
When I began my medical journey at The George Washington University, I initially considered pediatrics. However, my experiences working with inspiring female surgeons during my rotations completely transformed my perspective. They shattered preconceived notions I held about surgery and revealed to me the profound fulfillment and intellectual stimulation I found in the operating room. During those demanding late-night study sessions, the image of Dr. Bailey – a woman of color not just surviving but truly flourishing in her surgical career – became a powerful source of motivation, especially when self-doubt crept in about pursuing such a challenging path.
My connection to Grey’s Anatomy deepened further when I attended a conference focused on supporting underrepresented minorities in medicine. The keynote speaker was Dr. Zoanne Clack, an emergency medicine physician and, fascinatingly, a producer for Grey’s Anatomy. She spoke passionately about how her work on the show allowed her to seamlessly integrate her two passions: medicine and storytelling. Intrigued by this unique intersection, I introduced myself after her presentation. While there weren’t immediate opportunities for medical students to join the show’s production, Dr. Clack encouraged me to keep in touch, a piece of advice that proved to be incredibly significant.
Years later, after completing medical school and the intense first three years of my residency, I felt a pull to explore something outside the traditional research path typically undertaken during a research year. Remembering my conversation with Dr. Clack, I reached out to her. To my excitement, there was an opening for the show’s first-ever resident medical advisor. Following several phone interviews with the executive producers, I found myself heading to California for the summer, joining the team for the ninth and tenth seasons of the show.
My days were spent immersed in the dynamic environment of the writers’ room and on the bustling set, collaborating with a team of experienced medical advisors. My primary role was to ensure the medical accuracy of the scripts. Writers would frequently consult with me, posing questions to verify the realism of medical scenarios and terminology. I also worked closely with the actors, guiding them on the correct pronunciation of complex medical terms, and collaborated with the set advisors to meticulously recreate the authentic atmosphere of a functioning operating room on set.
Adding to the surreal experience, I even had the chance to appear as an extra in a few episodes. (Though, with a surgical mask on in most scenes, I was virtually unrecognizable!). While some of the surgical props were incredibly realistic, others were cleverly designed for Hollywood magic – the scalpels, for instance, were fake but ingeniously rigged to ooze fake blood at the push of a button. I recall one particular scene where I was asked to simulate making an incision. Initially, I thought, “This is the easy part, it’s what I do every day!” However, I quickly discovered that fake surgery is surprisingly more challenging than the real thing. It took multiple takes, much to my slight embarrassment, as I fumbled to get the fake blood to flow convincingly. This experience gave me a whole new level of respect for actors and their ability to make complex actions look so effortless and believable on screen.
Of all the aspects of my role, the most creatively rewarding was contributing to the medical storylines within the show. The writers would outline the overarching narrative and the key emotional beats of a scene, and I was given the exciting opportunity to flesh out the medical details – determining the patient’s specific condition, the medical procedures involved, and the realistic complications that might bring them back to the OR. This was a fantastic outlet for my creative thinking, a welcome departure from the often formulaic nature of academic scientific writing I was used to.
My time working on Grey’s Anatomy was such a transformative and enriching experience that it sparked the idea to create similar opportunities for other young residents. Working alongside Dr. Clack and other members of the show’s team, we developed the Grey’s Anatomy Medical Communications Fellowship. This fellowship, now offered annually to surgical residents across the country, is something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of. It’s truly inspiring to witness the growth of this community of young surgeons who are gaining invaluable experience at the intersection of medicine and media, much like my own journey began, sparked by the powerful representation of a character like Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy.
