02/13/2026
What if the stories we watch are shaping how we respond in real life?
Pitt graduate Ore Fawole explored that question at the University of Pittsburgh, where she double majored in natural sciences and film and media studies.
Her work looks at how television portrays medical emergencies and how those portrayals may influence public understanding, representation and real world response.
“I don’t think people realize how much health information they’re getting from screens,” Fawole said.
For her, improving what appears on screen is a form of public health, one that reaches millions of people beyond the walls of a clinic.
Her research has also been featured in national outlets including The Washington Post and The Guardian.
Read more about her story and work here: https://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/news/storytelling-meets-science