Dr. Max Goodwin shakes up the status quo on his first day as medical director of New Amsterdam, the oldest public hospital in the United States, while simultaneously dealing with his own personal and health issues.

Max navigates his diagnosis while Dr. Sharpe encourages him to make a plan. Meanwhile, Dr. Bloom encourages Reynolds to take a chance and Dr. Kapoor and Iggy work together to help a child.

A visiting journalist picks at the hospital's flaws while shadowing Max; Bloom and Reynolds have a major disagreement after Bloom makes a call against protocol; Kapoor confronts issues from his past.

A patient's treatment plan takes an unexpected turn when Max gets overly invested. Meanwhile, Reynolds celebrates his birthday with some help from the hospital and Kapoor grapples with a case that hits close to home.

Reynolds confronts a difficult episode from his past. Max distracts himself from chemotherapy by taking on the case of a frequent-flyer patient. Frome helps a young man suffering from severe delusions. Sharpe worries about Bloom's attempt to detox.

Sharpe struggles when a case hits too close to home. Frome uncovers a patient's surprising past. Reynolds makes progress in his personal life after some difficult news.

Max is forced to reckon with his diagnosis in a new way as things become more difficult for him. Meanwhile, Reynolds is forced to address what could have gone wrong in a recent surgery.