Many doctors have come and gone from Gaffney Medical Center, but that doesn’t make these Chicago Med exits any easier to accept. For fans who have gotten to know these characters through their jobs in the ED and their personal lives, it’s hard not to get invested. That makes it all the more difficult to say goodbye to them when they inevitably exit the show.
Doctors have left Chicago Med for various reasons over the years. Oftentimes they are moving on to the next chapter of their lives, though some are doing it more willingly than others. Chicago Med exits are some of the series’ most unforgettable moments, though it’s up to the fans whether it’s for good or bad reasons.
10 Stevie Hammer
Stevie Hammer was an attending physician in the Gaffney ED who was introduced in Chicago Med season 7. She went to medical school with Will Halstead, and the friendly rivalry that they had throughout the season even hinted at a potential romance plot for them in the future. However, season 7 would be Stevie’s only season on Chicago Med before she returned to Michigan to give her husband a second chance.
Dr. Hammer’s exit lands at the least traumatic on this list because of the satisfactory nature of her conclusion. Not only did Stevie get to repair the broken relationship that she had with her mother, but the decision to try again with her husband came at her own will. Fans should’ve been happy with how Stevie’s life turned out, and realistically, the one season she spent on Chicago Med wasn’t enough time to get truly invested in her character.
9 Vanessa Taylor
When nurse Maggie Lockwood found out that her biological daughter was not only still in Chicago but also a med student, fans knew that a future at Gaffney was likely for her. Vanessa Taylor started her clinical rotation at the Gaffney ED in Chicago Med season 6, becoming a full-fledged resident by season 7. Though her relationship with Maggie was rocky ever since their connection was revealed, Vanessa eventually grew closer to her birth mom and saw her as a mentor.
In season 8, Vanessa and Maggie’s relationship was stronger than ever. Vanessa had found her footing in the ED, and she trusted Maggie more than ever. It might’ve been a shock when she decided to leave Chicago that season in episode 6, getting a job offer to help out at a medical charity in the Philippines. It was definitely a huge blow to Maggie and fans might still mourn what could’ve been of their relationship. However, it was the best conclusion Vanessa could’ve gotten, and ultimately what might’ve been best for Maggie’s Chicago Med story going forward.
8 April Sexton
Though not a doctor, nurse April Sexton was a fan favorite on the show. That made her exit in season 6 all the more shocking and bittersweet. She was an original main cast member since Chicago Med’s first season and basically acted as Maggie’s second-in-command in the ED. April was loved for her compassion for patients, often seeing a perspective that the doctors didn’t. She left Gaffney after getting accepted into a Nurse Practitioner program.
It was revealed in the earlier seasons that April put her own dreams of being a doctor on hold in order to support her little brother Noah’s medical career. Fans knew that while she was an amazing nurse, she always had the potential and drive to achieve more. Perhaps this is why her Chicago Med exit doesn’t hurt as much as expected, and April even got a guest appearance in season 8 to solidify her happy ending.
7 Ethan Choi
Strict, no-nonsense doctor Ethan Choi is another Chicago Med original cast member. The early seasons saw Ethan struggle quite a bit to accept his emotions and not let his own judgments get in the way of his job, but he eventually grew into a competent doctor that even earned him the title of Chief of the Emergency Department. With how much tragedy Ethan ended up facing from getting shot to the death of his father, it seemed likely that his eventual exit would be steeped in trauma.
However, Ethan got the happiest Chicago Med ending he possibly could’ve had. Reuniting with April after her return to Chicago, the two reconciled their relationship and decided to tie the knot. The two also decided to start their own mobile clinic together, fulfilling a dream that fits both of their characters perfectly. Though it was hard to see him go as a core part of the show, knowing that Ethan got a happy Chicago Med ending with April and is still pursuing the career he loves is enough for fans to rest easy.
6 Dylan Scott
Dylan Scott was introduced alongside Stevie in season 7 as a new addition to Gaffney’s ED. A former police officer, the insight that he brought to his job as a doctor was a new perspective that the ED didn’t have. However, his past experiences as an officer are ultimately what led to his exit as he couldn’t truly separate his past from his current life as a doctor. Though only appearing in one season just like Stevie, Dylan’s exit was much more tragic considering the circumstances.
After treating supposed drug dealer Milena, the two develop a romantic relationship after she reveals that she is an undercover cop named Jo. When her investigation into the Serbian mafia catches up to her, Dylan accidentally shoots her in a confrontation with Goran Kostovic which ultimately leads to her death. Jo’s death definitely played a factor in Dylan’s decision to leave Gaffney, as he couldn’t stand to stay in the city where so much of his life got disrupted. Dylan’s pediatric background and natural charm won many over in his short appearance, making it hard to accept that he left the show heartbroken.
5 Will Halstead
Will Halstead’s exit in Chicago Med season 8 was an extreme shock as it wasn’t really alluded to. Though some might’ve been able to pick up hints on a second watch, Will was such a central part of the show’s eight seasons that it was hard to imagine the series without him. Even up until season 8’s finale, it looked as if Will was being set up to help make things right after Jack Dayton’s brief ownership. When Will decided to take complete blame for tampering with O.R. 2.0, some fans may have seen this as a fake out or cliffhanger of sorts.
4 Natalie Manning
Though Natalie Manning was a favorite on the show, a lot of the bold choices that she made left room for discussion. It was hard to stay mad at her for long as most of it stemmed from her passion to save lives, but there were times when she crossed the line. Just like her ex-fiancé Will, it was inevitable that she wouldn’t leave Chicago Med quietly and that it would be because of a consequence of her action.
In season 6, Natalie’s mother suffers from heart failure, and in a last-ditch effort, Natalie steals medication for her from Will’s drug trial. She is subsequently fired from Gaffney and moves back to Seattle with Owen, seemingly at peace with her future. It’s not completely out of character for Natalie to act in such an impulsive way, especially for someone she loves, and she did get her happy ending in her Chicago Med season 8 cameo. However, it was still hard to watch her spiral and risk the career she worked so hard for all because of one decision.
3 Sarah Reese
It seemed like Sarah Reese would almost have to leave the ED in season 2 of Chicago Med when she couldn’t find a job until Dr. Charles offered her a residency in the Psychiatry department. She then grew into a talented psychiatrist, even growing more confident in her skills. Sarah seemed to form a genuine passion for psychiatry for someone who never had any desire to go into the field, and most of this was due to Dr. Charles’ mentorship and the close relationship they developed.
Seeing the downfall of their partnership was sad, especially considering the consequences. Not only did Sarah have to find out that her father was a serial killer, she then witnessed Dr. Charles almost let him die from his heart attack. Despite her already complicated feelings for her father paired with the revelation, seeing her mentor in such a position broke her trust and was what ultimately made Sarah leave Gaffney. Their partnership was one of the strongest parts of Chicago Med, so seeing it fall apart knowing that they haven’t reconciled since remains part of Sarah’s painful legacy.
2 Connor Rhodes
Connor Rhodes was Gaffney’s charming trauma surgeon who was introduced back in season one of Chicago Med. With his initial attitude and inability to get along with Will, it seemed like Connor was going to be an egotistical figure in the ED. However, he quickly proved himself to be a passionate surgeon and loyal friend. Just like other characters in the ED, Connor was rarely lucky in love. When he developed a romance with fellow surgeon Ava Bekker, many hoped it would become the enemies-to-lovers trope of their dreams.
However, everything quickly went downhill when Connor’s father got involved. It resulted in Ava making bad decisions, acting out, and eventually committing an act that Connor would never be able to forgive her for. Having to witness his father’s death followed by Ava’s was ultimately too much for Connor to process, unable to stay at Gaffney or in Chicago. At this point in Chicago Med, Connor was definitely considered an all-time favorite character, so seeing his exit come at such a cost was heartbreaking.
1 Ava Bekker
There is no doubt that Ava Bekker’s exit from Chicago Med was the show’s most traumatic, considering that is the only main cast exit that resulted in death. Ava was a talented surgeon whose rivalry with Connor turned into a healthy competition, and eventually a romantic relationship. However, Ava’s love for Connor went too far when she slept with his father to get funding for the Hybrid O.R. Connor called it quits after finding this out, which was only the start of Dr. Bekker’s downfall.
