Dr Max Goodwin does things a little differently on his first day as medical director of the oldest public hospital in the US, New Amsterdam. He also struggles to handle his own personal and health issues.

Max refuses to come to terms with his diagnosis, instead focusing all his energy on the hospital and his wife's condition; Frome and Kapoor are concerned about a young boy's extensive psychiatric medication.

Max and Bloom help a heavily pregnant inmate who is brought in from Rikers; Max gives a wealthy donor food for thought when she pays a visit to the hospital; Reynolds starts to build up his department.

Max volunteers New Amsterdam to take patients from a short-staffed hospital nearby, causing chaos; Frome's conscience is torn over the funding for a hospital garden.

A visiting journalist shadows Max and starts picking at all the hospital's flaws; Bloom makes a call that goes against protocol, leading to a major argument with Reynolds.

Max stresses about his first fundraising gala at the hospital. Kapoor and Sharpe help a sick father and son.