From the TV to the ED

I'm amazed at how much time has passed since my first emergency department shift as a wide-eyed medical student. It was the same night that ER, the iconic medical drama set in an emergency department in Cook County, Chicago first aired in the UK. Little did I know that it would have such a profound impact on my life.

I remember donning my freshly starched white coat, emulating the style of Dr John Carter, with my floppy hair – it was the '90s, after all. It became a defining moment in my career.

In that pilot episode of ER, ‘24 Hours’, trainee John Carter, thrown in at the deep end by a begrudging Dr Peter Benton, puts in his first cannula. In real life, I do the same – with a lot more coaching and a lot less fumbling. And, whilst unlike Dr Carter I don’t have to deal with stab wounds and ruptured aneurysms, I, too, learn the importance of nifty footwork and quick thinking when faced with a patient in distress.

From M*A*S*H to Cardiac Arrest

I was the first person in my family to go to university and into medicine. Everything I knew about being a doctor came from watching fictional doctors on TV shows. I watched Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper McIntyre and Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H, or Dr Kildare and Dr Grayson on Dr Kildare. It wasn’t the medicine that drew me in. It was the sense of camaraderie, of friendship, of bonding through tough experiences.

“It wasn’t the medicine that drew me in. It was the sense of camaraderie, of friendship, of bonding through tough experiences.”

A young, floppy-haired Dr Andy Tagg was a medical student of the ‘90s.

As I grew older, my role models changed. I started watching shows like Cardiac Arrest, the darker British medical drama focussed on junior doctors working in a hospital. Despite the show cynically portraying a savage NHS, I was inspired by doctors like Dr Helen Maitland, who remained calm under pressure and displayed unwavering professionalism. I wanted to be like just like her.

In my final year of high school, I spent two weeks on elective following a couple of junior doctors around the hospital, astounded at how much they seemed to know. That was going to be me one day.

From ER to the ED

And so, I made it into medical school. It was two years of lectures in the basic sciences and another year doing an extra psychology degree before I would see patients again on my clinical rotations. There I met doctors I looked up to and doctors I swore I would never be like. And there was still television to guide me. There was still ER.

As a young medical student, I was still unsure about my career path. (As a teenager, I had initially envisioned becoming a pathologist and even convinced the local coroner to let me tag along and observe my first autopsy at 15).

But that first night in the emergency department changed everything for me. The fast-paced environment, the adrenaline rush, and the opportunity to make a real difference in patients' lives captivated me completely. From that moment on, I knew that emergency medicine was my calling. It hasn't always been easy, but the deep sense of fulfilment I get from knowing that I'm making a tangible impact on people's lives is unparalleled.

Because of ER, I also went to Chicago for my medical school elective. There, astounded at how important a role the medical students played in the team, I was more engaged. I volunteered for everything from plastering to maggot removal. The experience was eye-opening, and I returned to the UK more determined than ever to pursue a career in emergency medicine.

The ensemble cast of emergency medicine

“Emergency medicine isn’t a one-person show.” Dr Andy Tagg (second from left) and friends in 1994.

As ER demonstrated, emergency medicine isn't a one-person show. It takes a team of dedicated professionals working seamlessly together to provide the best possible care for patients. Just like the ER team relied on each other, I have been fortunate to work alongside teams of extraordinary doctors and nurses who share my passion and dedication to the field, and to our patients.

Just like Dr Doug Ross, Dr Susan Lewis and nurse Carol Hathaway, we collaborate and pool our expertise to deliver better outcomes for our patients. We support each other through the tough moments and celebrate the victories together. The sense of community that comes from working with a group of people who truly understand the challenges and joys of our profession is something else.

An indelible impression

“ER was the epitome of medical drama, showcasing the highs and lows of life in the emergency department.”

ER left an indelible impression on me, as it did on many others who watched it. It was the epitome of medical drama, showcasing the highs and lows of life in the emergency department.

Of course, the reality of working in emergency medicine is vastly different from what we see on TV. It's not all drama and high-stakes surgeries. But like ER, there are long hours, difficult cases and heartbreaking losses. And through it all, just like ER’s characters, I remain grateful for the privilege of doing this work and I am reminded daily of the importance of teamwork, resilience, and compassion in the face of life's many challenges.

My message to trainees would be, discovering your passion in medicine may not always happen immediately. There will be unexpected moments in your career that shape your path and lead you to new opportunities. It may take time, exploration, and perhaps even a stroke of serendipity. In my case, the perfect convergence of timing and circumstance – and TV – led me to uncover my love for emergency medicine. Stay resilient, adaptable, and committed. Who knows: your own ER moment could be just around the corner!