Chicago Med might already have a replacement for Zola Ahmed

Dr. Zola Ahmad (Sophia Ali) was always going to have a short stint on Chicago Med. She was far too reckless with her treatments, and willing to gamble with patients' lives to become a reliable member of the Gaffney team. The inevitable happened in the episode "You Just Might Find You Get What You Need," when she was fired for trying to harvest the organs of a patient who was still using them.

Zola is the latest character to leave Gaffney in the last year. Chicago Med has been hit the hardest by cast turnover of all three One Chicago shows, as it has been forced to part ways with veteran stars and those were brought in to fill their shoes (remember Dr. Dylan Scott?!). The Zola saga was a fun subplot, but her absence opens up a spot that needs to be filled sooner rather than later.

Dr. Zola's exit leaves an opening on Med

Fortunately, Chicago Med may have already introduced her replacement: Loren Johnson (Henderson Wade). Johnson was introduced as a surgeon and medical helicopter pilot in season 8, but he hasn't had a ton to do besides flirt with Maggie (Marlyne Barrett). He had two memorable guest spots in the season, and three in season 9 (so far). That being said, he seems primed to slip into a permanent role.

Med has already done the leg work to introduce Johnson, and his personal dynamic with Maggie gives him an emotional shorthand with the audience. We understand where he's coming from, and can keep his feelings for her in mind as he engages with the rest of the Gaffney team. The fact that his screen time has increased also suggests that the writers enjoy implementing him.

Loren Johnson is being positioned as a replacement

The synopsis for the upcoming Med episode, suggests that steps have already been taken to give Johnson more screen time:

"Ripley struggles to keep Sully’s diagnosis a secret when the latter’s pregnant girlfriend comes to Med for help. Loren works to earn a spot in Med’s trauma fellowship. Charles and a medical student treat a bipolar artist."

A trauma fellowship sounds like a fast track to series regular, and frankly, we're here for it! Do you think he would make a good full-time addition?