NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health is marking a milestone this month: the one-year anniversary of “26 Minutes with Dr. Warren Seigel,” a local health talk show that has quickly become a staple of community-based medical storytelling and education.
Since launching last year, the show has recorded 27 episodes — 14 pilot installments and 13 officially broadcasted episodes that now air on BRIC Media every first and third Saturday of the month. The show is hosted by Dr. Warren Seigel, chairman of pediatrics at South Brooklyn Health, whose blend of heart, humor and medical insight has made him a standout in front of the camera despite having no prior experience as a host.
The show was born out of a partnership between South Brooklyn Health and BRIC Media, sparked by Executive Producer Greg Romenski, who had previously worked with Dr. Seigel. Together, they envisioned a program that would bring accessible health education directly into Brooklyn homes.
“The purpose of this show is to promote health,” Dr. Seigel told Brooklyn Paper. “We want to make sure that education goes out to our entire community, specifically on medical topics, to help people stay healthy and prevent diseases. We want to make sure that everybody has the same access to a healthy lifestyle.”
Dr. Seigel credited the hospital’s Office of Public Affairs for helping him step into the role, with Assistant Director of Public Affairs and Communications Isaiah McClain appointed as Executive Producer. McClain, who previously worked as an Associate Producer for PBS’s “State of the Arts,” helped shape the show’s direction and production quality from the start.
South Brooklyn Health also made history as the first hospital in Brooklyn to launch a talk show on local television. The initiative quickly gained momentum, thanks in part to a wide range of hospital staff who volunteered their time and stepped into new roles to support the show’s development.
Lakeisha Weston, the hospital’s coordinating manager of community outreach and CAB liaison, served as senior producer during the early stages, managing logistics and coordinating volunteers from departments across the hospital, including HR, IT, Transportation, Maintenance, and OBGYN. Their efforts helped transform a hospital conference room into a professional studio setting.
As the program matured, McClain appointed Dr. Eugenio Solis De Ovando as the show’s new senior producer. With a strong background in media production, Dr. Solis De Ovando brought a fresh perspective to the team and has worked closely with McClain and BRIC Media to enhance the show’s production and storytelling.
Now a year in, “26 Minutes with Dr. Warren Seigel” continues to grow its audience and deepen its community impact. The show covers a wide range of health topics with compassion and approachability, making it a unique platform that bridges the gap between hospital staff and the patients they serve.
“This is more than just a talk show,” the hospital said in a statement. “It is a platform for education, inspiration, and storytelling that uplifts both patients and providers.”
Episodes of “26 Minutes with Dr. Warren Seigel” air on BRIC Media on the first and third Saturday of each month and are also available on the NYC Health + Hospitals YouTube channel.
