On this day March 23 1988 Heartbeat premiered on ABC. The medical drama focused on the personal and professional lives of female doctors working at a women’s clinic. Starring Kate Mulgrew Laura Johnson and Lynn Whitfield the show aimed to highlight the challenges and triumphs of women in the medical field. The series ran for two seasons with a total of 18 episodes. While it didn’t have a long run it stood out for its focus on female led storytelling in a genre typically dominated by male protagonists. Kate Mulgrew who later became known for her role in Star Trek Voyager played a strong and determined lead character.
80s insight: Heartbeat was one of the first medical dramas to center entirely around female doctors paving the way for later shows with strong female leads in the medical genre.
80s insight: Heartbeat was one of the first medical dramas to center entirely around female doctors paving the way for later shows with strong female leads in the medical genre.
