A new doctor is reporting for duty at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, and she is bringing big changes with her. Sepideh Moafi joins the cast of The Pitt for its second season as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, an attending physician whose arrival creates immediate tension and introduces a controversial new system to the busy ER. The season is scheduled to premiere on January 8, 2026, on HBO Max.
Who Is Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi?
Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi is a new attending physician hired to run the emergency department while Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, played by Noah Wyle, is on a temporary sabbatical. She is not just a temporary fill-in but a permanent addition to the hospital staff who plans to implement new ways of working. The character steps into an environment where Robby is famously particular about how his department operates, setting the stage for professional conflict.
Sepideh Moafi, known for her roles in The L Word: Generation Q and Black Bird, joins the show as a series regular. Her character is described as a successful woman in a high-pressure field who is prepared for the challenges of her new role.
A Clash of Ideals in the ER
The core source of tension in the new season stems from the fundamental differences between Dr. Al-Hashimi and Dr. Robby. Noah Wyle explained his character’s viewpoint, stating that Robby is inherently resistant to anyone taking over his domain.
“I don’t know that he would really be totally accepting of anybody that was moving into his role,” Wyle told Entertainment Weekly. “You know, he’s very proprietary about the E.D., and he runs his shop in a very specific way.”
Dr. Al-Hashimi, however, is ready for this resistance. Moafi described her character’s approach to such professional hurdles, linking it to broader real-world experiences.
“Honestly, I think like any woman in any field, especially a successful woman in any field, you’re used to coming up against resistance, especially from your male counterparts,” Moafi said. “She’s ready, she’s equipped, she’s prepared. And like most women, and women of color, you are over prepared for whatever challenges you might face. And so I don’t think it throws her off.”
Introducing Artificial Intelligence to Patient Care
The most significant change Dr. Al-Hashimi brings is the introduction of artificial intelligence (A.I.) systems to help manage the hospital’s emergency department. This storyline aims to tackle the real-world debate about technology’s role in healthcare head-on. The proposed A.I. is meant to streamline operations and increase efficiency, but it is met with immediate suspicion, particularly from Robby.
Wyle elaborated on his character’s fears, connecting them to genuine concerns in the medical field about workforce reduction and increased workloads.
“Robby’s innately suspicious of anything that could potentially allow a hospital to reduce its workforce because of the streamlining,” Wyle said. He added, “There are byproducts to employing this kind of technology. One of the unfortunate ones is layoffs, and we’re already seeing staffing shortagesโฆ So the reward for working better sometimes is more work, not less work.”
This conflict between technological progress and human-centered care will be a central drama playing out over the season’s 15 episodes.
New Dynamics and Returning Relationships
Season 2 is set ten months after the events of the first season and takes place over the busy Fourth of July weekend. This time jump allows for character evolution. Dr. Frank Langdon, played by Patrick Ball, returns to the hospital after completing rehab, having done significant personal work. His dynamic with Dr. Trinity Santos, played by Isa Briones, who has not had the same opportunity for growth, will continue to be a point of tension.
Dr. Al-Hashimi will also form key alliances within the hospital. She previously worked with Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) when Mohan was a resident on rotation at a Veterans Affairs hospital. She is also set to become a crucial mentor for Dr. Mel King (Taylor Dearden), who needs guidance after the downfall of her previous mentor, Dr. Langdon.
New and Returning Faces for Season 2
Alongside Sepideh Moafi’s addition as a series regular, the show has expanded its cast with several new recurring roles. These new characters will primarily be patients and their families, adding to the real-time cases of the holiday weekend.
The new recurring cast members include:
- Charles Baker as Troy, an unhoused patient.
- Irene Choi as Joy, a third-year medical student.
- Brittany Allen as Roxie Hamler, a patient.
- Taylor Handley as Paul Hamler, the husband of a patient.
- Jeff Kober as Duke, a motorcycle engineer with a past connection to a doctor.
They join returning series regulars including Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden, Patrick Ball, and Supriya Ganesh.
The second season of The Pitt will continue its unique real-time format, with each of the 15 episodes covering one hour of the extended July 4th weekend shift. The series is created by R. Scott Gemmill and executive produced by Gemmill, John Wells, and Noah Wyle.
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