34 I collaborated with three other physicians who work full time for Grey’s Anatomy, as well as a researcher. I worked in the writers’ room every day, which included me and 18 others, to provide episode ideas and pitch storylines. On the production side, I learned about the various aspects of props, coordination, special effects, and set design. When on set, me, a nurse, and her assistant helped show the actors how to deliver their lines. I spent most of my time in the writers’ room. It generally takes a few weeks to write an episode—from pitching preliminary stories to getting it in production—and then about two weeks to shoot each episode. There were always multiple episodes in some stage of production at any given time. Throughout each day, if a new version of a script came through, I edited the medical portions of the script, which go through many revisions. We also created multiple types of documentation that summarized the different medical issues we were writing about for the cast and crew to base their work on. Patients don’t read research journals for their medical information—they go to TV medical dramas and Google. I figured if I could work with TV shows to tell medically accurate stories, I could have a much greater impact on public health. So, I wrote to medical shows looking for opportunities to help ensure medical accuracy. I learned that Grey’s Anatomy was looking for a surgical resident to participate in its medical communications fellowship program. This entails working on the show for six months to shed light on current events from the perspective of a surgical resident. I applied with my residency program’s permission, and the timing worked out perfectly. On my first day, I met all the writers, as well as showrunner Krista Vernoff and Ellen Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey. I don’t really get starstruck, but it was pretty cool to talk with them. Everyone was really welcoming and wanting to hear my stories about working in a hospital during the first COVID-19 wave. Meet a TV Series Fellow CARISA R. CHAMPION, D.O., J.D., M.P.H. D.O., J.D., M.P.H. (’16) (plus certificates in health law and interprofessional leadership studies) General Surgeon about to start a cosmetic surgery fellowship in Oklahoma City; Surgical Communications Fellow, ABC/Walt Disney Television A daughter of two nurses, Champion made it an early mission to decrease suffering and increase justice in some way. NSU allowed her to concurrently earn medical and law doctoral degrees and a master’s in public health. Now, the general surgical resident has added a layer of creativity onto her public health passions. DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE n SHEPARD BROAD COLLEGE OF LAW Shark Encounters
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