10 Questions with Peter Pillitteri, MD
As a physician, mentor, musician and dog lover, Dr. Pillitteri finds purpose in helping others—and looks forward to expanding that mission at the new Urgent Care Center in The Pinehills.
To Peter Pillitteri, MD, composing a musical score isn’t all that different from managing a chaotic emergency room. Both require precision, timing and the ability to transform what sometimes begins as a cacophony into something orchestrated and purposeful. “You’ve got to orchestrate the noise,” he says. “You have to make sense of it all and create order—just like composing a piece of music.”
It’s this unique blend of science and art, of structure and improvisation, that defines Dr. Pillitteri’s life.
“My vocation is truly being a healer, as a physician,” says Dr. Pillitteri. “But you can heal through medicine and through the arts, too. They work hand in hand. It’s about healing the whole person—physically, spiritually, together. The arts make you a better humanist.”
A seasoned emergency physician with Cape Cod Hospital, Dr. Pillitteri has spent more than 30 years on the front lines of care, helping patients in their most critical moments. He first trained in internal medicine before realizing that emergency medicine—with its fast pace, unpredictability and wide variety of cases—was where he truly belonged. He has been affiliated with Cape Cod Hospital since 1994 and has worked full-time there since 2012, while also helping to staff Cape Cod Healthcare’s Urgent Care Centers in Hyannis, Harwich, Orleans and Osterville.
This summer, he’s especially looking forward to the opening of a brand-new Urgent Care Center in The Pinehills, Plymouth, just minutes from his home. “I can’t wait,” he says. “I know a lot of people in the community, and this urgent care is definitely needed.”
But medicine is only half the story. A lifelong musician and composer, Dr. Pillitteri, now 67, once wrote theme songs for HBO and Lifetime TV. Now, as he approaches retirement, he’s devoting more time to “A Seafarer’s Son,” an original musical inspired by his father’s passing and the struggles of coastal fishing communities. The story, set in an 1860s port town, grew out of grief and reflection—but has evolved into a full-fledged production. “You only get one chance at a first impression,” he says. “When it’s ready, it has to shine.”
And just when you think you’ve figured him out, there’s Sunny Luca—his affectionate Vizsla who’s taken the dog show world by storm. Dr. Pillitteri laughs: “I knew nothing about show dogs. We just thought it might help calm her down.” Instead, Sunny Luca has racked up wins from Falmouth to the nationals in Florida and could be on her way to Westminster.
Whether he’s tending to patients, mentoring young clinicians, composing at the piano or cheering from ringside, Dr. Pillitteri leads with heart, focus and determination to “go the extra mile”—a phrase he repeats often. We recently caught up with Dr. Pillitteri to talk about his path to emergency medicine, his passion for music and the meaningful moments that have shaped his life both in and out of the hospital.
1. What drew you to emergency medicine?
The variety. In one day, you might see pediatric, geriatric, surgical, gynecological, orthopedic, cardiac and pulmonary cases. It’s everything. My father was an OB-GYN, my sister is a PA, and two of my brothers are OB-GYNs—so medicine was always in our house. But so was music. We always had the arts around us, too. At some point, you make career choices based on what feels right..
2. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Balance. I think that’s hard for anyone, but especially in medicine. You’re expected to go the extra mile—for a lot of people. My father missed my medical school graduation because he was delivering a baby.
3. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a composer. I’ve written theme songs for HBO and Lifetime TV, produced films and I’m finishing a musical. Most people don’t know that I had to make a decision to work for HBO or Lifetime versus continuing in medicine.
4. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
“The Last Ship,” by Sting. His solo work in the early ’90s really resonated with me—musically and emotionally.
5. What’s your personal mantra?
“There isn’t much traffic on the extra mile.” I first heard that from a band leader on one of the late-night talk shows, and it stuck with me. I say it all the time to my students: When you go that extra mile, when you make it a habit and truly live it, special things happen.
6. What was your very first job?
A pharmacy clerk in high school. I made $2.16 an hour, minimum wage in 1974. It taught me how hard you have to work for what you want.
7. What would a perfect day off look like for you?
I went to medical school in Italy and lived there for nine years. I loved it. Northern Italy is my favorite, especially strolling through the Lake District. I used to walk along the banks of Lake Garda near Verona, and in my uncle’s vineyard in the Apennine hills of Northern Italy. Just spending time in the middle of that vineyard was a big part of my life. That would be my perfect weekend.
8. What superpower do you wish you had?
I’ve always loved the idea of flying—ever since I was a kid. I studied engineering in college and was always fascinated by flight. I was also big into water skiing and snow skiing, and when you hit a jump and sail through the air, it’s the closest thing to flying. And when I have flown in my dreams, it’s pretty amazing. So yes, I’d love to fly.
9. Your greatest inspiration?
I’ve had many. Certainly, my grandfather and father. I’ve also been deeply influenced by the collaborator Dick Hanley, who wrote the book of my musical, “A Seafarer’s Son,” and by countless doctors who took the time to mentor me over the years. Mentorship is so important, and I’ve been fortunate to receive it. And now, I love passing that on by teaching students and young clinicians.
10. What on the horizon are you most excited about?
Finishing my musical, “A Seafarer’s Son.” I’m about 80 percent done, and I think it will really resonate with people. Musicals are expensive to produce, but with platforms like YouTube, I’m exploring the idea of releasing it digitally—maybe even using animated or emoji-style characters to bring the music to life.
