ER

Between 1994 and 2000, Dr. Neal Baer served as writer and producer for ER, the groundbreaking medical drama that transformed public understanding of health and medicine. Trained as both a physician and storyteller, Baer infused the series with authenticity and social purpose—using narrative television to illuminate real medical and ethical issues. Under his creative direction, episodes like "Hell and High Water", "Whose Appy Now?", and "The Gift" combined gripping human drama with meticulous medical accuracy. His writing brought attention to organ donation, HIV stigma, and women’s health, demonstrating how popular media could educate and mobilize audiences. A Kaiser Family Foundation study of ER’s cervical-cancer storyline revealed that within a week of airing, the percentage of viewers who could correctly define HPV tripled—from 9 to 28 percent—and awareness of its link to cervical cancer rose from 19 to 60 percent. This measurable impact established ER as a model for entertainment-education and solidified Baer’s reputation as a pioneer in merging data, emotion, and action to improve public health through storytelling.