Grey's Anatomy Bids Adieu to Sandra Oh

The Doctors of Seattle Grace 

There was the chief of surgery, the head of cardio-thoracics and the neuro god, top-notch medical professionals whose concern for their patients was on par with the focus directed upon the interns who they would teach. From the larger group, there were five, managed by Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), the diminutive but mighty third-year resident surgeon also known as "The Nazi," whose intensity and insistence on professional excellence and hard work struck fear in her subordinates as well as in many of her superiors. Her charges, five young interns, were all bonded by the desire to learn, to heal, to cut, and the challenge to make it through the rigorous five year surgery program at Seattle Grace Hospital despite the dire prediction made by Chief of Surgery Richard Webber (James Pickens, Jr.) that many from the larger group of neophyte surgeons in which they were included would ultimately fail.  

The Inevitability of Change

Much has changed in the seasons since Dr. Webber’s welcome speech in the pilot episode of Grey's Anatomy, ABC's resident medical drama, starring Ellen Pompeo as the titular character Dr. Meredith Grey. The five (including Dr. Grey) at the show’s original center of focus are now three -- one having had his life cut short, the other having begun hers anew someplace else after nearly losing a battle with a type of cancer that kills 95 percent of those who contract it. The three who remain are now former interns who have become bona fide well-trained surgeons with different surgical specialties. Two are post-doctoral fellows. Two are part owners of the hospital, members of its governing board and survivors of a horrific plane crash which claimed the lives of two fellow surgeons and permanently maimed another. One is an attending physician who has followed in the famous footsteps of her mother. All are complex, compassionate, credible individuals, television characters who because of the brilliance of the series’ creator Shonda Rhimes, have carved for themselves an indelible impression upon the hearts of viewing audiences.

The Unflappable Dr. Yang

Sandra Oh has for 10 seasons portrayed Dr. Christina Yang, the hard core cardio-thoracic surgeon and one of the original five whose trajectory into her chosen profession was launched from personal tragedy and loss.  As a character, Christina is about as multidimensional as they come – hard and unflinching, brutally honest and straightforward without the least measure of hesitation or remorse in her delivery of unpleasant news. She can also be compassionate, empathetic and hurt to the point that her face literally melts into sadness, her tears forging a reluctant path downward. Although she will be sorely missed, it is understandable that the Dr. Christina Yang, Ph.D. who is beloved by series devotees has worlds to conquer outside of and well away from the confines of Seattle Grace/Seattle Grace Mercy West/Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.  And perhaps Sandra Oh, the real person behind the character, wants to do something else too. 

An Unbreakable Bond

Perhaps too will Yang be missed by her colleagues, primarily Meredith Grey who for 10 years has been her person, the ‘twisted sister’ on whom she has come to rely. Their bond was forged in the elevators, patient rooms, nurses stations, on-call rooms and OR’s which exploded, flooded, became toxic and were besieged by a gunman with nothing left to live for will never break, even as their paths take very different directions. Farewell Dr. Yang. Good luck, and Godspeed.