The most surprising Chicago Med exits of all time

Chicago Med has made lots of personnel changes in the last season. We’ve seen the departure of several beloved characters, and even the departure of characters who were meant to come in and replace the former.

Some of these departures were a long time coming, but others seemed to come out of nowhere and shock fans due to how quickly they unfolded. Characters who had been with the show since day one were suddenly gone, and fans were forced to move on, not unlike the rest of the cast.

Here are some of the Chicago Med exits that shocked us the most.

Nicole learns to deal with grief with the help of her grandfather and a carpenter she hires to renovate the home once meant for her and her fiancé. Photo: Torrey DeVitto Credit: ©2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Allister Foster /

Dr. Natalie Manning

Dr. Manning (Torrey DeVitto) was a pivotal character on Med. She was arguably the female lead of Med during its first six seasons, and her relationship with Dr. Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) led to some of the most satisfying romantic moments of the show.

Then, like that, she was gone. A tough situation involving her mother’s health and her choice to steal medication from Gaffney led to Halstead, then her, being fired. It was true to who she was as a character, but it still made it tough to say goodbye when she packed up and drove away during the season 7 premiere.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 19: Actor Colin Donnell arrives at The Paley Center For Media’s 33rd Annual PaleyFest Los Angeles – Stars of “Law and Order: SVU”, “Chicago Fire”, “Chicago P.D.”, and “Med” Salute Dick Wolf event at the Dolby Theatre on March 19, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage) /

Dr. Connor Rhodes

We all liked Dr. Connor Rhodes (Colin Donnell). He was a charismatic presence on the show, and his approach to treatment made him one of the most invaluable doctors in the ED. Sadly, the lovefest was short lived, as he left the show during season 5.

Following the tragic death of a family member, Rhodes decided that he wanted to leave town to get a fresh start and deal with the emotional fallout of his loss. His exit left a hole that the show has managed to fill with the likes of Dr. Scott (Guy Lockard), but Rhodes will also have a special place in the hearts of Med fans.

“All The Things That Could Have Happened” Episode 714 — Pictured: Kristin Hager as Dr. Stevie Hammer — (Photo by: George Burns Jr/NBC) /

Dr. Stevie Hammer

Dr. Stevie Hammer (Kristen Hager) was brought in at the beginning of season 7, and she seemed like a replacement of sorts of Dr. Manning. Her backstory ensured that she had a unique dynamic with Dr. Halstead, as well as subplots of her own.

Due to the pregnancy of actress Kristen Hager, however, Dr. Hammer was written out of the show at the halfway point of the season. Onscreen, it was decided that Hammer would leave Chicago after she was able reconcile with her mother, and while it made sense narratively, it did feel like there was a lot more of her story to tell.

CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 30: Norma Kuhling attends the press junket for “One Chicago” on October 30, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images) /

Dr. Ava Bekker

This one was tough. Dr Ava Bekker (Norma Kuhling) tried and failed to start a romance with Dr. Rhodes, and when it backfired, she responded by murdering Rhodes’s father. When it’s found out that she was the one responsible, Bekker decided to take her own life.

While Bekker was nobody’s favorite character on Med (an understatement), the decision to take her own life was genuinely shocking, and provided fans with one of the most unexpected exits in show history.

Next. Who’s in, who’s out on Chicago Fire, Med and PD. dark

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