Since its premiere in 2015, Chicago Med has firmly established itself as a true powerhouse within the One Chicago franchise. The youngest of the One Chicago trio, Chicago Med has emerged as one of the most beloved shows in the franchise and one of the best medical dramas on the air.
Like all good dramas, Chicago Med has brought fans many unforgettable moments over the years. From unforgettable cases and event episodes to character introductions and departures, every fan has their list of moments that have stuck with them. Among those moments for many fans is likely to be the departure of Brian Tee, which came with a bittersweet note back in 2022.
December 7 marks the anniversary of Brian Tee leaving Chicago Med
It’s hard to believe that three years ago on December 7, 2022, Chicago Med bid farewell to one of the show’s original characters with the departure of Brian Tee. After eight seasons playing Dr. Ethan Choi, Tee decided to step away from the show with his final episode coming in the season 8 midseason finale, “This Could Be the Start of Something New.”
The episode marked the end of an era for Chicago Med and was an exit that took many fans by surprise when word broke that Tee would be leaving. Tee made the decision to leave the show rather than renewing his contract in order to spend more time with his family and pursue additional opportunities.
“Playing Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med has been such a gift and a blessing. I am forever grateful to our fans and my colleagues both in front of and behind the camera as I embark on a new journey. I am forever indebted to Dick Wolf, NBC, and Universal Television for choosing me,” Tee told Deadline in announcing his exit.
With Tee giving the writers a heads-up of his desire to exit the series, they were able to craft what has honestly been one of the best exit storylines the show has served up.
In Tee’s final episode, we got to see Ethan and his longtime love interest nurse, April Sexton, get married in front of all of their friends. His exit from the hospital was then explained as Ethan chose to leave Gaffney Chicago Med to launch a mobile clinic to help those in underserved communities within the city.
Surprisingly, Tee has not returned to the show since leaving in 2022, though he has remained open to the idea of reprising his role.
"I leave the door always open. Chicago Med has been an incredible experience and ride for myself personally. And I've made some wonderful friends that I hold near and dear to my heart. And going back just to work—not even being in front of the camera—going back to work, and seeing and working with the cast and crew would just be a joy to do,” Tee told NBC Insider in 2023.
After bringing back Nick Gehlfuss and Torrey DeVitto as Dr. Will Halstead and Dr. Natalie Manning, respectively, we’d love to see Tee make his way back to Gaffney for a guest spot. It’d be great to see what Ethan and April have been up to since they left the show, so here’s hoping that day could come soon! We know Tee has returned behind the scenes as a director since exiting the show, so let's hope the creative team can find a way to bring him back but on-camera this time around.