Eleven seasons into its run, there have been many iconic moments in Chicago Med’s history that have forever changed the trajectory of the series. From character introductions and departures to unforgettable relationship milestones and shocking deaths, countless moments through the years have stayed with fans.
Sometimes these moments have stuck with us because of the heartbreak and disappointment they brought. More often than not, though, the moments that tend to stay with us are ones that changed the show for the better. Take, for example, a moment that occurred five years ago, which led to the introduction of a new doctor at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, who would go on to become an integral part of Chicago Med and win over fans immediately.
March 10, 2026 is the 5-year anniversary of Steven Weber joining Chicago Med
On March 10, 2021, Chicago Med welcomed Steven Weber to the cast, introducing Dr. Dean Archer as a character we thought might be a temporary addition to the Gaffney staff and are grateful became a permanent fixture!
Back in season 6, episode 8, “Fathers and Mothers, Daughters and Sons,” Ethan Choi (Brian Tee) was tasked with hiring a new doctor to assist him in the ED amid his ongoing recovery from surgery. After dragging his feet to fill the role, Ethan was given a nudge from Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) to fill the position as she handed him a list of ED doctors who had been let go from a nearby rural hospital through no fault of their own.
When reviewing the list, one name immediately jumped out to Ethan: Dean Archer. We came to quickly learn that Dean was Ethan’s senior medical officer in the Navy, who taught him most of what he knows and helped to mold him into the doctor he’d become. With Goodwin pushing to fill the position, Ethan set up a meeting with Dean and offered him the job on the spot, noting that the interview was simply a formality.
To Ethan’s surprise, Dean not only accepted the position, but he also wasted no time in wanting to dive into things, offering to start the job that very day. The pair would compromise with Ethan having Dean shadow him through the day to get a lay of the land.
Right away, we came to learn that Dean was not one to mince words, and he developed a tendency to ruffle the feathers of his fellow doctors. Literally in his second episode, Dean caught Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto) and Crockett Marcel (Dominic Rains) having an intimate moment and later accused them of letting their romantic feelings cloud their judgment when it came to their work in the ED after Natalie went around Dean and brought in Crockett when she disagreed with Dean’s assessment.
Out of the gate, it was clear that Dean was tough, disciplined, and often blunt, with his military background shaping his leadership style and approach as a doctor. His military background shaped his no-nonsense mentality, and he’s a stickler for protocol, which has sometimes rubbed his colleagues the wrong way. Dean is direct and doesn’t sugarcoat things, but that’s also what makes him an amazing doctor.
Dean is serious about patient care and medical ethics, always making sure that his patients are the top priority. While his bedside manner might be lacking at times, his actions always come from a place of wanting the best for the patient under his care.
Over time, we’ve seen just how complex Dean is as a character, and the show has chipped away at his hard exterior to give us glimpses of his vulnerable side. We’ve seen Dean struggle with complicated family dynamics and health challenges, and we’ve seen that while he may clash with his colleagues, he will go to bat for them and have their backs.
Dean doesn't get as much credit as he deserves for the value he brings to the show as a whole. Good storytelling requires some sense of conflict, and you need characters who are willing to challenge the status quo, push back against the other doctors, and make the tough calls that others might avoid. Dean fills that role in a way that keeps the dynamics in the ED interesting while also allowing other characters to grow and evolve around him.
He’s an incredible character, and it’s impossible to think of Chicago Med without Dean, and that’s a testament to the amazing performance Steven Weber has given from Day 1!