New York’s Largest Hospital System Now Taking on Hollywood Ambitions

By Rob Otto

New York’s top healthcare provider, Northwell Health, has ventured into new territory with its own production studio, Northwell Studios. According to the NY Post, the state’s largest private employer has now set up shop in Long Island to create original scripted and documentary-style medical content, aiming to capture a wider audience’s fascination with hospital dramas like “Grey’s Anatomy.” CEO Michael Dowling told the Post that this bold step is intended to elevate Northwell’s brand, expand public awareness of its 21 hospitals, and attract talented medical professionals by offering a uniquely creative environment.

“What does a movie studio do? They set up scenes, actors, and fictional situations,” Dowling explained, emphasizing that he has “the real thing in the real world.” Northwell already has six Emmys for productions created with outside teams, but now, with Northwell Studios, the healthcare giant is directing its own narratives, per the NY Post.

Northwell’s media journey began before the pandemic, with the healthcare provider allowing cameras behind the scenes in 2018 to film the Netflix series “Lenox Hill,” which documented the lives of four doctors working at its Upper East Side hospital. However, when COVID-19 struck in 2020, Dowling made the unprecedented decision to allow a documentary crew into Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. Over the span of five months, the team captured more than 850 hours of footage, documenting the challenges healthcare workers faced during the first wave of the pandemic. This footage became the basis for the Emmy-winning documentary “First Wave.”

“People often don’t see the daily heroics of healthcare staff,” Dowling told the Post. “By letting cameras in, we allowed audiences to experience a side of healthcare they rarely see.” Now, the newly established Northwell Studios, announced in July, will expand these efforts by supporting the production of scripted and unscripted content, streamlining filming logistics, and ensuring sensitive information remains protected.

However, creating real-life medical shows is not without challenges. Northwell must carefully manage permissions to avoid privacy pitfalls. The NY Post pointed out that another real-life medical show, “NY Med,” faced serious consequences for failing to secure patient consent, ultimately leading to its cancellation and a costly $2.2 million fine for New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dowling assured that Northwell is committed to patient privacy and is taking steps to avoid any similar missteps.

Although Northwell hasn’t made a profit from its productions, Dowling shared with the NY Post that the increased visibility helps attract patients and inspire new medical recruits. “Talent is drawn to innovative organizations,” Dowling noted. “Northwell isn’t afraid to break new ground, and that’s appealing to healthcare professionals.”

In fact, as the NY Post reported, the success of shows like “Lenox Hill” has already made stars out of Northwell physicians, including neurosurgeon Dr. David Langer, who has since been featured in major outlets like The New York Times. The new Northwell series, “One South,” which recently premiered on Max, documents patients in a psychiatric unit, illustrating the complexities and challenges faced by mental health professionals.

With a U.S. physician shortage looming, Dowling hopes these reality series will inspire future doctors. The studio has multiple projects in the pipeline, including a mental health-focused series, “The Village,” as well as four other upcoming series that underscore Northwell’s commitment to healthcare innovation and New York’s resilience.

Reflecting on New York’s comeback since the bleak days of 2020, Dowling shared a hopeful message with the Post, recalling a time when Fifth Avenue was nearly empty. Now, he believes, “New York is resilient… it has gone through tough periods in the past and is rejuvenated.”