iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Beth Hoffman

Steph Herold @stephherold.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

New paper from @bethlhoffman.bsky.social & me using YouTube comments to analyze how people respond to abortion storylines I was surprised by how much people engaged in meaningful discussions, especially when they roasted shows for being unrealistic 😅 www.frontiersin.org/journals/com...

frontiersin.org

Frontiers | “Have the writers actually read abortion law?”: using YouTube comments to explore audience responses to entertainment TV abortion plotlines

IntroductionComment sections on social media websites such as YouTube provide a unique venue to observe contemporaneous audience interpretation and discussio...

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

My quote of the day All men have an emotion to kill; when they strongly dislike some one they involuntarily wish he was dead. I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction. Clarence Darrow

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Thank you to @hollywoodheath.bsky.social for facilitating conversations about Freedom House with the writers of The Pitt, and to all my fabulous coauthors!

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

A fun behind-the-scenes fact: This project was supported by undergraduate research funding, and student researchers played a critical role in the analysis. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is involving students in research! #UndergraduateResearch #PublicHealthEducation #Mentorship

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

As researchers, we often focus on whether people remember information. But these reactions point to something bigger: storytelling can help uncover forgotten histories and encourage people to question what stories get told, and which ones are left out. #HealthEquity #MedicalHistory #ThePitt

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

We also analyzed discussions from r/ThePittTVShow. Many viewers shared information with one another, discussed the history of Freedom House, and reflected on broader issues such as racism and inequities in healthcare. In other words, the episode served as a springboard for them to learn more!

static.klipy.com

Alexis Rose Winks: Learn Something New Every Day

ALT: Alexis Rose Winks: Learn Something New Every Day

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

We examined Google searches for "Freedom House" and "Freedom House Ambulance" before and after the Freedom House storyline aired on The Pitt. The day after the episode aired, searches for "Freedom House" increased by 170%.

Graph of google search trends for Freedom House showing a huge spike after February 20 when the episode aired.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

In the 8th episode of Season 1, there was a patient named Willie who was a member of Freedom House and discussed their pioneering work in #EMS, dissolution by the City of Pittsburgh, and virtual elimination from history due to systemic racism.

An image from The Pitt with a Black older male patient in a bed, two white doctors beside him, and his son sitting in a chair next to the bed.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

New publication in @sagepub.com American Journal of Health Promotion! We examined public awareness of Freedom House Ambulance Service after its portrayal on #ThePitt. A fascinating example of entertainment media sparking real-world learning 🧵⬇️ journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

journals.sagepub.com

Public Awareness of Freedom House Ambulance Service After Viewing the Pitt - Beth L. Hoffman, Kate Leshniowsky, Ore Fawole, Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, 2026

Purpose To conduct an exploratory, descriptive trends analysis related to The Pitt’s Freedom House Ambulance Service (FHAS) storyline. Design Multi-method exam...

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

Dr. Sandra Steingraber 🏳️‍🌈 @ssteingraber1.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Your reminder that fairy tales are full of stepmothers because women once routinely died in childbirth, from postpartum sepsis, or from other infectious diseases and left behind housefuls of motherless children. Stable nuclear families are made possible by vaccines, antibiotics, and safe abortions.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

I’m so glad you came to the show!

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

@JanelleAnthro @janelleanthro.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

"Pro-Life" event in Pittsburgh... a misnomer as women w/o science-based healthcare are more likely to die from complications of childbirth. Please support true Pro-Life actions like getting vaccinated - keep up over NFL draft. secure.actblue.com/donate/maddo... @realclaudetaylor.bsky.social

secure.actblue.com

Donate to MAD DOG PAC

Show your support with a contribution.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Let’s ride this momentum and get these pioneers the recognition they deserve! Use this link to write your Senators and Representative asking them to co-sponsor the bipartisan Freedom House Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by @repsummerlee.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/letters/d05b...

actionnetwork.org

Cosponsor the Freedom House Ambulance Service Congressional Gold Medal Act

Over 65 years ago, a quiet revolution was beginning in Pittsburgh PA. Starting with 25 Black men and later on women deemed “the unemployables,” Freedom House Ambulance Service went on to provide the n...

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Seeing his excitement looking at the graph and reading sample Reddit comments filled my heart! Special shout out to the students who helped with this and Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah for making it all possible!

Beth Hoffman, a white woman, shows Chief John Moon results from the Freedom House ambulance storyline research

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Last night’s movie screening and panel discussion at the Heinz History Center (cohosted by Pitt Public Health) about Freedom House Ambulance Service was amazing, but the highlight for me was being able to share with John Moon our research looking at the impact of The Pitt Freedom House storyline.

Poster describing research results with a graph showing a spike in google searches for Freedom House after The Pitt storyline. John Moon and two Pitt professors are standing on the sides of it

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

These programs translated evidence into clinical practice at scale. We outline what was eliminated and how the children most at risk, in rural areas, low-income communities, and underresourced health systems, are the ones who will lose the most if these cuts go through in the future.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

In December 2025, HHS terminated $18.4M in @ameracadpeds.bsky.social grants, ending programs in infant death prevention, autism identification, mental health, and rural child health. While a judge mandated the funds be reinstated, it is still vital to understand the implications of these cuts.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

New Viewpoint out today led by Emaad Khan with yours truly as mentoring author in @jama.com Pediatrics: "Federal Funding Cuts Threaten US Pediatric Health.": jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

God @thegodshow.com · 28/02/2026

The ‘Board of Peace’ started World War 3 so fast.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Qualitative findings stood out: nearly half of participants said they would engage patients with more empathy, which is a core tenant of MI. Edutainment works because stories create emotional engagement, realism, and space to practice difficult conversations.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

The sessions were part of a clinical encounters course for physician assistant (PA) students. We saw significant improvements in: ✔️ Ability to identify misinformation ✔️ Comfort using MI with patients expressing misinformation

media.tenor.com

a man says " that is progress " in a snl ad

Alt: a man says " that is progress " in a snl ad

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Patients increasingly bring infectious disease misinformation into clinical encounters, but many health trainees feel unprepared to respond. So, we piloted an approach using medical drama clips (ER, Chicago Med), didactic on misinformation + MI, and small-group script rewriting using MI principles.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

🚨New paper out in @jhealthcomm.bsky.social! 🚨 We developed and pilot-tested an edutainment-based curriculum to help future healthcare providers address health misinformation using motivational interviewing (MI). A 🧵

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Thanks for highlighting our study!

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Our takeaway: 📺 Media is a powerful public health tool. Closer collaboration between public health experts + content creators could help ensure CPR on screen is both common and correct. And, so grateful to my coauthors and collaborators @pittdeptofmed.bsky.social and Public Health!

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Why it matters: Inaccurate portrayals may increase hesitation to act, even while CPR itself is normalized. This directly conflicts with @americanheart.bsky.social efforts to reduce barriers to layperson response.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

TV also misrepresents who experiences OHCA. 👶 Over half of on-screen cardiac arrests happened to people under 40 🏠 Only ~20% occurred at home (Reality: most OHCAs involve older adults and happen at home) Also, just like in real-life most characters who got CPR were white and male

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

The not-so-good news: Only ~30% of depictions followed correct Hands-Only CPR steps. Common inaccuracies included: ❌ pulse checks ❌ rescue breaths

media.tenor.com

a man in a red jacket says i wasn t kissing her i was giving her cpr

Alt: a man in a red jacket says i wasn t kissing her i was giving her cpr

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

The good news: 📈 Hands-Only CPR was shown more often on TV than it happens in real life (58% vs ~40%) - this could help normalize bystander action!!

media.tenor.com

a kitten is standing on its hind legs in a room with a caption .

Alt: a kitten is standing on its hind legs saying "yah yah yaya!"

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

We reviewed 169 scripted TV episodes (2008–present) with cardiac arrest–related content. 👉 93 showed OHCA 👉 85 showed CPR 👉 54 depicted CPR by a layperson, so should have been Hands-Only CPR

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

First, some context: Over 350,000 OHCAs happen each year in the U.S., and bystander CPR can double or triple survival. In teaching Hands-Only CPR in local communities, a lot of people incorrectly thought they should check for a pulse or give breaths. Could that be because of what they see on TV?

media.tenor.com

a man smoking a cigarette with the words that 's what i was thinking too on the bottom

Alt: GIF of Joey from Friends with text "that's what I was thinking too"

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

📺🫀 New study out in Circulation: Population Health & Outcomes! We analyzed how out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and Hands-Only CPR are depicted on scripted U.S. television: www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/... 🧵👇

ahajournals.org

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

Miranda Yaver @mirandayaver.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Here is the CBS Sunday Morning piece for which I was interviewed about findings from my book Coverage Denied. Health insurance barriers ration health care by inconvenience, imposing hurdles to get prescribed care with administratively burdensome appeals many can’t navigate. youtu.be/SRPOoPDN-7w?...

youtu.be

State of denial: How insurance companies impact health care today

YouTube video by CBS Sunday Morning

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

This is one of our favorites!

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Zoe Weissman survived the Parkland shooting. Now she’s at Brown, and it happened again. “Honestly, I'm really angry that this is happening to me all over again, and I'm just in shock.” We’re failing our kids. A gun-sick nation. 🇺🇸 www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

God @thegodshow.com · 08/11/2025

There is nothing an American president could do worse for his own people than starving the poor right before Thanksgiving. Except for, I don’t know, lying about a plague and getting a million of his own citizens killed. Oh wait, let’s also not forget the time that he:

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

What a full circle moment thinking about watching TV together inspired me and Emily to have these important conversations many years ago #healthcommunication #siblinggrief

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Challenging the notion that TV can be either informative or entertaining, the study found that viewers who saw these storylines were more likely than non-viewers to say they sought or shared information about organ donation and end-of-life planning.

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Grateful that I had the opportunity to consult on the @learcenter.bsky.social's latest study, which looked at the impact of The Pitt's organ donation and end-of-life care storylines on viewers: www.mediaimpactproject.org/thepitt.html

mediaimpactproject.org

Life & Death in The Pitt

For nearly 25 years, our Hollywood, Health & Society program has served as a free and trusted resource to the entertainment industry, providing accurate information and access to experts for...

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

@JanelleAnthro @janelleanthro.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

@pgh-health-science.bsky.social is working to get billboards up in the Pittsburgh area to educate about this issue. Please donate to maddogpac.com/cart if you want to help. apnews.com/article/penn... supreme court battles move to Pennsylvania, where 3 Democratic justices hope to keep seats

apnews.com

State supreme court battles move to Pennsylvania, where 3 Democratic justices hope to keep seats

Republicans and Democrats have begun pouring money into an election this November for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

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Reposted by Beth Hoffman

Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 15/09/2025

The Pitt won Outstanding Drama Series at the #Emmys, and R. Scott Gemmill dedicated the award to healthcare workers: "Respect them. Protect them. Trust them.” 🏆 www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't add how wonderful it was to work with Steph, and how much I am looking forward to future collaboration! #science #entertainmenteducation #TV #abortion #research #publichealth

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

We also found potential misinformation in about 10% of posts, both misinfo about abortion itself and abortion policy. These comments were significantly more likely to be anti-abortion. There could be a role for TV plotlines to address this misinfo!

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

For the comments themselves, the most frequent category was arguing with another poster (41.2%), but only about 2/3 of those were also coded as hostile. Could it be that people were engaging in respectful dialogue? We plan to do more in-depth qualitative work to find out!

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Beth Hoffman @bethlhoffman.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

We looked at clips on official channels, and were surprised that a majority of comments were from legal dramas (as opposed to medical). These channels had an average of 1.78 million subscribers - a huge audience!

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