The film is a first-person reflection of McGarry’s own training at the Los Angeles County General Hospital, the birthplace of emergency medicine. McGarry spent five years in production on CODE BLACK while simultaneously working the 24/7 schedule of a young doctor in training—an especially sleepless approach to first-time filmmaking. He studied English at The Pennsylvania State University and received his medical degree at The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, a decision inspired in part by his experience as a stage IV cancer patient while in college. He is currently developing fiction, scripted projects for both film and television.