The Season 6 finale of Chicago Med marked more than the end of another television year — it signaled a major turning point for the long-running NBC medical drama. The episode served as a farewell to two of the show’s original cast members, Yaya DaCosta and Torrey DeVitto, whose departures closed an important chapter in the series’ history.
Since the show’s debut in 2015, Yaya DaCosta has portrayed ER nurse April Sexton, one of the emotional anchors of Chicago Med. April’s journey has been defined by resilience, personal growth, and a deep commitment to patient care, making her one of the most recognizable faces at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Torrey DeVitto, meanwhile, played Dr. Natalie Manning, an emergency pediatrics specialist whose storylines frequently explored the intersection of medical ethics and personal loss. DeVitto’s character also appeared in crossover episodes with Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., further cementing her role within the broader One Chicago universe.
Both characters received definitive, carefully structured exits in the Season 6 finale. According to TVLine, Natalie Manning’s departure was rooted in a dramatic and emotional storyline involving her mother’s heart transplant. Although the surgery itself is successful, complications arise when Dr. Will Halstead is fired for providing Natalie’s mother with unauthorized medication. In a final act that underscores Natalie’s moral compass, she confesses to stealing the pills herself and pleads with hospital leadership to reinstate Will. The revelation brings closure to Natalie’s arc while reinforcing the character’s long-standing struggle between professional rules and personal conviction.
April Sexton’s farewell unfolded in a quieter, more optimistic manner. Rather than a scandal or crisis, her exit centered on professional advancement. April is accepted into a nurse practitioner program, giving her a clear path forward and allowing the character to leave Gaffney Chicago Medical Center on her own terms. The storyline provided a clean and hopeful conclusion, reflecting the steady determination that defined April throughout the series.
Behind the scenes, the departures align with contract cycles for the original Chicago Med cast, whose initial agreements concluded at the end of Season 6. While DaCosta and DeVitto are moving on, sources indicate that other original cast members — including S. Epatha Merkerson and Oliver Platt — are expected to return for Season 7, ensuring continuity amid the changes.
Both actresses already have new projects lined up. DaCosta has secured a starring role in Fox’s drama series Our Kind of People, signaling a major next step in her television career. DeVitto, meanwhile, has joined the cast of the independent feature film Skelly, expanding her work beyond network television.
The exits come at a time when Chicago Med remains a strong performer for NBC. Like the other shows in the One Chicago franchise, the series is currently one year into a three-season renewal. In Live+Same Day viewing totals, Chicago Med stands as NBC’s most-watched series this season, anchoring the network’s highly successful One Chicago Wednesday lineup at 8 p.m. All three Chicago dramas are produced by Wolf Entertainment in association with Universal Television.
As Chicago Med looks ahead to Season 7, the departures of DaCosta and DeVitto mark the end of an era while opening the door to new stories, characters, and dynamics — a balance the franchise has repeatedly proven it can navigate successfully.
