SeriesFest Conversations: Ashley Michel Hoban, Showrunner of ‘Dr. Death’

(L-R) Alexa Junge, Janine Sherman Barrois, Ashley Michel Hoban, Michelle Paradise, Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Perri Nemiroff at SeriesFest’s ‘Celebrating Women in Showrunning’ Panel at SeriesFest: Season 10, May 4, 2024. (Photo Courtesy of SeriesFest.)

Ashley Michel Hoban serves as the showrunner of ‘Dr. Death’ on Peacock, and we had the opportunity to speak with her about season two of the show, before its release in December of 2023. As luck would have it, Ashley was in attendance at SeriesFest this year for a pair of panels, giving us the opportunity and honor of speaking with Ashley again, to follow-up with her regarding the show, now that season two is on the airwaves.
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John Betancourt: What does it mean to you for season two to have been so well received by audiences and critics alike?
 
Ashley Michel Hoban: It's special because I, you know, I've been working with Patrick Macmanus for a long time and to be able to try to hold up and live up to what he created in the first season was a very important goal. So, I'm very lucky. And I'm very proud that people are enjoying it.
 
John Betancourt: The more I've had time to reflect on season two after watching it, the more I’ve realized that it is very much a lesson about standing up for oneself and doing the right thing. What does it mean to you to be someone that shepherded a story that really inspires people to hopefully to stand up when they see an injustice in the world,
 
Ashley Michel Hoban: It's meaningful to be able to kind of create a story that informs you, you have to be your own advocate, you're going to be your first advocate whenever you're dealing with doctor and health. So, I don't know it's kind of an honor to be able to have a platform, especially with Littleton Road, that people can go and find, find different ways to help them learn how to advocate so that's really special.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to what season two accomplished?
 
Ashley Michel Hoban: I am proud of bringing awareness to the eight plus, possible more, victims of Paolo Macchiarini. I'm proud that that we were able to tell their stories truthfully. And I hope that their families and those that are still with us, are able to feel proud of themselves about what we were able to show and that we honored their lives and stories.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

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