Pitt professor assists Hollywood in accurately portraying public health in medical dramas

Local Professor Helps Hollywood Get Public Health Representation Right

Beth Hoffman, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, is making a big impact on how public health is portrayed in the media. With her class, Entertainment and Media Health, she is combatting misinformation and ensuring accurate representation of public health topics in Hollywood productions.

Hoffman’s work caught the attention of USC and the Hollywood, Health & Society, who regularly reach out to her for advice and research. She even assisted on the set of “Code Black” in 2015, helping actors answer medical questions from viewers on social media.

One of Hoffman’s most notable collaborations was with the show “This is Us,” where she studied the impact of their Alzheimer’s disease storyline. The research showed that the storyline motivated viewers to have discussions with family members about advanced care planning.

Her dedication to educating the public about health topics has inspired her students to follow in her footsteps. Britney Manu, one of her students, shared how Hoffman influenced her to pursue public health as her major.

Hoffman’s ultimate goal is to empower people with the skills to critically analyze the media they consume, especially when it comes to health information. She and the University of Pittsburgh are committed to continuing their efforts to combat misinformation in the media and ensure accurate representation of public health topics in Hollywood productions.