TV doctors #5 – Dr. Peter Benson

Dr. Peter Benson, E.R., NBC (Eriq LaSalle)

E.R.’s Dr. Peter Benson was erratic and driven, part of one of TV’s great ensemble casts.  It was a fantastic role for actor Eriq LaSalle.

TV doctors #3 – Dr. Preston Burke

Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) from Grey's Anatomy (Disney/ABC)

Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington) was released from the hit ABC show Grey’s Anatomy after he made insensitive remarks about gays.  But before all that, he was a major star on the show and won awards from the Screen Actors Guild and the NAACP, as well as TV Guide’s 2008 “Hot Doctor” list.

TV doctor #2

Dr. Sam Bennett (Taye Diggs) from Private Practice (TV Guide/ABC)

Dr. Sam Bennett (Taye Diggs), cardiothoracic surgeon, founding member of the Oceanside clinic, and pop author on ABC’s Private Practice.  Like most of the night-time medical dramas, it’s all about the passion, with the glitz of a SoCal medical practice as a backdrop.  But we watch this show for the hotties and the drama.  Diggs’ portrayal of Dr. Bennett made TV Guide’s “15 Hottest TV Doctors.”  Oh the heat!  Oh the drama!

TV doctors

CSI:NY's Dr. Sheldon Hawkes, played by Hill Harper. (fanpop.com)

You might have noticed that one of the premiums for a donation of $500 or more (at http://indiegogo.com/a-doctors-dream) is a full season DVD set of a TV drama with a black medical professional as a major character.

Just for fun, I’ll be posting a series of images from these TV shows.  But beyond the fun and fancy, TV images are incredible cultural influencers.  TV shows give an impression of normalcy, and in the process, they create societal norms.  There’s no shortage of stereotypes on the small screen.  Let’s hear it for TV’s black doctors!

Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (played by Hill Harper) has been on CSI:NY since Season 1 (2004).  Before moving to the field, the former surgeon was the first medical examiner on the show.  (Crime shows must have a compelling coroner – a casting call that has opened doors for more actors to play doctors!)

Welcome to “A Doctor’s Dream!”

This is the hub for interaction and information related to the documentary project, “A Doctor’s Dream.”  Here’s where you will find the latest video trailers, clips from the film as it is in production, ways to enter the parallel discussions of medical education, medical reform, and urban entrepreneurship.

I also hope you will support this project financially as we march toward getting this story on public television.

Thanks for visiting, join the conversation, and please keep in touch!

Steve Chavis, producer