The main health clinic in Unalaska may soon be the focus of a new documentary series on A&E. An independent documentary filmmaker has already begun virtual interviews with staff members.
Dawn Johnson, CEO of Iliuliuk Family and Health Services, said Dr. Ryan McGarry, director of the award-winning documentary “Code Black,” reached out to the clinic about filming a series highlighting what it’s like to deliver healthcare in a remote, rural setting like Unalaska. She said McGarry, an emergency medicine physician, wants to pitch a documentary to A&E that features the providers and the everyday challenges they face.
Johnson said the focus will be on healthcare workers, not patients, though she said specific patient consent would be required if that ever changes. Johnson said producers are currently in the editing phase of those initial staff interviews, and there’s no definitive timeline yet.
The clinic’s board of directors has signed off on moving forward with filming for a potential pilot. Johnson said if A&E decides to move ahead with a full documentary series, the board will take another vote before anything is finalized.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that A&E was already involved in the filming and production process. However, independent filmmakers have yet to pitch the series to the television network. The story has been updated and corrected.
