A doctor who entered the U.S. illegally in the 1980s has become a prominent brain surgeon. Also, continual high-pressure situations take a toll on the life and marriage of a heart surgeon.

A woman badly in need of a lung transplant waits to find out if an available organ is a good match, an ER doctor weighs the pros and cons of marriage, and a heart surgeon is kicked out by his wife.

Ann Czarnik is a doctor from West Virginia who is surprised by the carnage of the ER. Earl Ingman is in need of more than just a heart transplant. Brian Bethea tries to reconcile with his wife, Amber.

Peyton, an apparently healthy toddler, is diagnosed with a severe heart condition. His parents must decide whether to wait for a heart transplant to to let him deteriorate. Tom Reifsnyder discusses his marital travails and his comedic surgeries. Ann Czarnik returns home to West Virginia.

Having left a career as a successful dentist for a career in surgery he was told he could not have, a tough–talking plastic surgeon demonstrates skills unmatched anywhere as he makes the ugly beautiful and gives those without hope a future. Also three eager medical students jump at the chance to participate in patient care, but find that patients are less than thrilled to be guinea pigs.

A surgical resident makes a mistake that causes a patient to have surgery. A pediatric resident cares for premature infants. A surgeon takes on a 3 way kidney transplant. A transport nurse tries to save a child during a transfer to Hopkins.

A girl adopted from China undergoes heart surgery for an unknown cardiac problem. A doctor gets stitches in his forehead from a colleague. Dr. Andy Cameron has trouble balancing his life as a transplant surgeon and as a father.