Hospitals & Hollywood: What TV and Film Get Right (and Wrong) About Health Care Leadership

AHA Leadership Scan: A Series of Virtual Panel Discussions   

Hospitals & Hollywood: What TV and Film Get Right (and Wrong) About Health Care Leadership 

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 
1 - 2 p.m. Eastern; noon - 1 p.m. Central; 10 - 11 a.m. Pacific    

Hospitals have long been Hollywood’s favorite setting for high-stakes drama, humor and heroism. From ER and Grey’s Anatomy to Scrubs and The Good Doctor, popular media has shaped how the public views health care professionals, leadership and hospital operations.

This special edition of Leadership Scan uses familiar TV and film portrayals as an accessible entry point for a deeper conversation about real-world health care leadership. The session blends pop-culture references with leadership insight, inviting attendees to examine what Hollywood gets right, where it oversimplifies, and what health care leaders can learn from the stories audiences connect with most.

The result is a highly engaging, interactive panel that connects culture, leadership and public perception without sacrificing substance. 

Attendees Will Learn:

• How media portrayals influence public expectations of hospitals and clinicians.
• Real leadership, operational and ethical challenges using familiar examples.
• How to encourage reflection on teamwork, crisis response and decision-making.

Speakers:

Daniel A Handel, MD, MBA, MPH 
Chief Medical Officer, Central Market 
Advocate Health

Paul D. Malito MHA, BSN, RN, CAVRN 
Director of Nursing Services, e-Medicine 
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

William D. Jones, EdD, MBA, MPH, MSN, RN, CAVRN, NE-BC 
Manager, Tele ICU | Virtual Nursing, Virtual Sitter 
UAB Medicine 
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) 

Michael Salvi 
Associate Director of Surgical Solutions 
Baxter  

AHA Moderator: 

Chris DeRienzo, MD 
Senior Vice President, Chief Physician Executive 
American Hospital Association

By attending the AHA Leadership virtual panel discussion "Hospitals & Hollywood: What TV and Film Get Right (and Wrong) About Health Care Leadership" offered by the AHA, participants may earn up to 1 ACHE Qualified Education Hour toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.