📺 What ‘The Pitt’ gets right about Pgh

💨 Pittsburgh Air Quality Gets Failing Grade

Our region’s air quality is the 16th worst in the country, according to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report. The study measures daily particle pollution, a mixture of tiny solids and liquids suspended in the air, which can cause various lung, heart, and cognitive issues. [TribLive]

• 🔥 It's not totally our fault. Smoke from the 2023 Canadian wildfires contributed to our poor air quality. [WESA]
• 🌎 Allegheny County is working on a Climate Action Plan to help mitigate landslides and flooding and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [PublicSource]

👟 Strong Turnout Expected for Marathon

More than 45,000 runners from 19 countries are set to participate in the Pittsburgh Marathon May 3-4. Organizers say they're expecting a record-breaking crowd this year.

• 🚲 Festivities kick off May 2 with the Pittsburgh Live Well Expo at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center; the free event will have booths with all things health and wellness. [Pittsburgh Marathon press release]

🎶 WYEP Launches Neighborhood Concert Series

The nonprofit radio station is bringing a series of eight shows to venues throughout the city, starting today with Merce Lemon and Animal Scream at Crafthouse Stage & Grill in the South Hills. Check out the lineup throughout the summer. [City Paper / WYEP]

Everyone in and outside of the Burgh seems to be raving about Max’s Pittsburgh-based medical drama, “The Pitt,” which will be back in town to film its second season later this year.

But just how “Pittsburgh” is it? Here’s where we think “The Pitt” has a pulse on our city.

🚨 WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

🏥 Challenges Facing Hospital Staff

Each episode covers one hour of a 15-hour shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, aka Allegheny General Hospital. The action mostly follows attending physician Dr. Michael (Robby) Rabinovitch, played by Noah Wyle of ER fame, and resident and student doctors, nurses, janitorial staff, and more as they respond to urgent cases and an overflowing waiting room.

A few storylines include violence toward health staff, unionization, and hospital administrators seemingly undercutting patient care — all topics familiar to Pittsburghers.

📍Showcasing Local Scenes & Staples

While the majority of the show is filmed at a set in Burbank, Calif., Pittsburgh gets its moment in the literal sun with stunning aerial views, scenes outside and on the roof of AGH, and even via a LifeFlight helicopter — where you can still see the AHN logo.

But other references are slipped in so subtly that you could easily miss them: someone in the waiting room wearing a Giant Eagle uniform top, a sommelier patient who works at Altius, mentions of biking in Frick Park and table tennis in South Park, someone needing assistance outside a Fine Wine & Good Spirits, and even plugs for Wholey’s, Mister Rogers, Iron City, Primanti’s, and Rivers Casino.

Yes, they mispronounced a few words over the course of the series (jackoff ≠ jagoff, youse ≠ yinz!!), but all-in-all, they did a great job weaving the city into the fabric of the show.

🚑 Our Pioneering Medical History

When a patient was in-the-know with medical lingo, “The Pitt” staff wondered whether he was a doctor — but it turns out he was part of The Freedom House Ambulance Service, the first emergency medical service created in the Hill District in 1967. Its all-Black paramedic crew, led by Pitt professor and “father of CPR” Dr. Peter Safar, paved the way for the 911 system we use today.

Talking to Science Friday, show consultant Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, associate professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at Pitt, said it was important to highlight that work and other storylines really relevant to Pittsburgh — like how important considerations of language equity can be in emergency cases and just how often she sees patients at UPMC Children’s who’ve accidentally ingested cannabis gummies.