‘The Pitt’ receives special honor from Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors

'The Pitt' was given the honors by the Cedar-Sinai Board of Governors last October 11.
Lead actor and Executive Producer Noah Wyle with showrunner R. Scott Gemmill and show director John Wells. (Courtesy of Getty Images) 

Los Angeles, CA – Acclaimed HBO drama “The Pitt” was honored by the Cedats-Sinai Board of Governors with the The Hollywood Leadership Award last October 11 at a Sunset Soiree held on the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank. 

The syudio lot is also home to the sound stage where “The Pitt” is filmed - transforming it into an immersive Hollywood experience centered on purpose and celebration. 

 

Present from the show were star its star and executive producer Noah Wyle; executive producer and director John Wells; and creator and showrunner R. Scott Gemmill 

 

“As an Angeleno, I’ve got a lot of ties to Cedars, my first child was born at Cedars,” Noah Wyle revealed while on the red carpet. 

 

Wyle further emphasized the deep bond between “The Pitt” and the hospital by saying, “A lot of our background nurses and experts come from the Cedars staff, so we owe them a debt of gratitude that we're just paying back a small percentage of tonight, by trying to raise the money.” 

Katherine LaNasa, who plays Head Nurse Dana Evans in HBO's The Pitt, presented the honor to Wyle, Wells & Gemmill. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

 

Katherine LaNasa, who also stars in “The Pitt,” presented special honor to Wyle, Wells and Gemmill. The award recognizes the series’ authentic portrayal of life in the emergency department and its commitment to depicting the realities of emergency medicine with accuracy and heart.

 

While honoring her colleagues onstage, LaNasa said, “Fate and HBO brought these remarkable men together to bring ‘The Pitt’ into being. John creates a culture of respect in which artists can do their best work. Scott protects the show’s vision, truth and authenticity. And Noah sets the standard for our ensemble with his generosity and humility. They inspire us every day.” 

 

LaNasa continued to a standing ovation from the crowd, “If you wonder what inspires them, we just saw the answer a few minutes ago. It’s Dr. Sam Torbati and his team and the healthcare professionals at hospitals across Los Angeles who meet some of the hardest moments of our lives with presence of mind and heart. Dana, the character I play, is a love letter to the nurses whose skill, strength and kindness have meant so much in my own life.”

 

“With deep appreciation, I recognize the Board of Governors for extraordinary generosity and commitment to advancing discovery,” said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai. “The Board of Governors’ work empowers Cedars-Sinai investigators to pursue bold ideas, translate breakthroughs into care, and create new hope for patients and families.”  

 

The evening also celebrated philanthropists Jaime and Andrew Schwartzberg, bringing together more than 750 leaders from entertainment, healthcare, business, finance, law and philanthropy. 

 

Attendees raised more than $3.1 million and counting to support the Board of Governors Innovation to Impact campaign, a $60 million fundraising initiative focused on advancing early-stage research across five critical areas: children’s health, cancer, neurosciences, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases and aging. 

 

Scientific discoveries in single-cell technology are central to the initiative, empowering investigators to study diseased cells at the individual level to uncover root causes of complex medical conditions and develop new care options for patients.

Andy Grammer performed at the nightcap of the evening's festivities. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Award-winning musician Andy Grammer closed the evening with a special performance of “Love Showed Up,” from his forthcoming sixth studio album, “Big Stupid Heart,” out October 16 via S-Curve Records/Hollywood Records, along with fan favorite songs including “Keep Your Head Up,” “Don't Give Up on Me” and his smash hit “Honey, I'm Good,” which had the audience singing along.

The historic Warner Bros. Studios lot - home to the sound stage where “The Pitt” is filmed -
was transformed into an immersive Hollywood experience centered on purpose and celebration. (Courtesy of Getty Images) 

Guests also included Fiona Dourif, Grant Show, Scott Budnick, Katie Wincor Hacker. A live auction featuring a luxury vacation to Cabo, tickets to the global premiere of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone” and an exclusive opportunity to travel aboard the Los Angeles Rams’ team charter for an unforgettable away-game weekend against the San Francisco 49ers.