The Leadership Lessons Hidden in Medical Dramas

While medical dramas keep us on the edge of our seats with cliffhanger cases and emotional plot twists, their value to future healthcare leaders lies in a candid lens on leadership in action. These shows remind us that effective leadership is not merely a function of technical skill, but rather clarity, ethics, teamwork, advocacy, and resilience in the face of challenges. By tuning into the choices and actions of characters such as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, Dr. Meredith Grey, Dr. Will Halstead, Dr. Kit Voss, and Dr. Elliot Reid, students and professionals can gain tangible insights into their own approach to leading teams, solving problems, and serving others.

Take The Pitt, for example. In scenes during a city-wide emergency, Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch isn’t merely reacting to chaos, he is orchestrating order. His approach to the crisis is deliberate: he delegates responsibilities to nurses and other medical staff, confirms instructions are heard and repeated back, and maintains control of the room through both calm demeanor and clear direction. This “closed-loop communication” is far more than TV drama, it’s a critical leadership skill found in the real-world of healthcare. For HOSA leaders, the principle applies directly to event management, team collaboration, and decisive action in high-pressure settings. Whether in a medical simulation or a statewide competition, knowing how to communicate succinctly and reinforce the chain of command reduces errors and builds trust.

In Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Meredith Grey embodies a model of decisiveness anchored in ethical reasoning. Her leadership in the direst moments of the hospital, such as the infamous lockdown and shooting episode, shows that rapid decisions may be made without deferring to the values and input of others. Dr. Grey consults with Dr. Miranda Bailey during critical junctures, soliciting insight while remaining transparent about the risks and desired outcomes. This openness to balancing urgency with empathy and respect for ethical boundaries creates a model for leadership inside healthcare. HOSA members often find themselves convening diverse teams and driving projects on tight timelines; they benefit from the reminder that decisions are strongest when informed by open dialogue and shared values.

Chicago Med brings teamwork and multidisciplinary coordination to the forefront. That is where Dr. Will Halstead excels: he pulls together wide-ranging expertise, from nurses to psychiatrists to administrators like Sharon Goodwin, to social workers who can handle complex patient cases. He realizes that no individual specialty holds the answer and that solutions require insight and cooperation from everyone on the team. Goodwin's hands-on involvement from her administrative position further drives the point home that leaders need to facilitate collaboration at all levels. HOSA chapters and health initiatives each have clearly defined roles and ask for input from all participants to ensure that no perspective goes unheard and that projects are managed with the same inclusiveness and efficiency displayed on-screen.

The Resident's Dr. Kit Voss shows that leadership needs to tackle hard choices with integrity. With strained resources and administrators looming over her, Dr. Voss continues to support her patients time and time again, seeking to make decisions based on what is right rather than what is easy. Having the likes of Dr. Devon Pravesh at her side, Kit continues to communicate transparently with her team and patients regarding the challenges that lie ahead. Kit never passes up owning those tough decisions. To the HOSA leaders who find themselves leading service projects or chapter governance, Kit's resolve underlines the importance of transparent decision-making and vocalizing core values when the direction ahead is unpopular or difficult.

Scrubs, for the most part, provides the most realistic examination of the evolution of leadership through the journey of Dr. Elliot Reid. The growth of Dr. Reid from a self-doubting, mistake-prone intern to a confident and adaptable attending physician serves as an example of resilience. As such, Scrubs sets a powerful precedent for future leaders across the world: it is not perfection that defines great leaders, but rather how they deal with setbacks and work upon their growth. In a team environment like HOSA, taking the time for reflection, normalizing feedback after challenges, and encouraging a growth mindset ultimately creates a more cohesive group capable of overcoming any challenge. 

Put together, these medical dramas don't just entertain the most memorable scenes from living textbooks on leadership: Robby's clarity teaches precise communication in crisis; Meredith and Bailey's partnership shows the strength of ethical decision-making; Halstead and Goodwin team up to show us that inclusivity elevates outcomes; Kit Voss models moral courage through advocacy. Finally, there is Elliot Reid's resilience, encouraging ongoing improvement. These life lessons are priceless for HOSA members looking to extend their leadership beyond the classroom. In medicine, as in public health, leaders are made from the moments when one can clearly communicate, question ethics, build a team, take a stand, and push through adversity. The situations presented in The Pitt, Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med, The Resident, and Scrubs are not situations fabricated by producers; they are truly major components of what it takes to be a healthcare professional and leader. By internalizing the leadership lessons hidden in medical dramas, HOSA members can better approach every competition, event, and real-world situation that may be thrown at them with the mindset and toolkit necessary to truly create change and therefore prove that great leadership requires practice, presence, and heart.

Ananya Yemme

President-Elect

2025 - 2026