The reason we love medical dramas is usually the same reason we love cop procedurals: getting insight into the heroes who are constantly racing the clock to save lives. From shows like Grey’s Anatomyor House M.D., medical dramas have always been a popular sub-genre, giving us compelling cases (or showcasing medical conditions we pray we will never get), and peeling back the mystery of the hospital by portraying the personal lives of staff. From the adrenaline rush of wondering if a patient’s life is going to be saved in time to the often light-hearted moments in between where we connect with characters, there’s no shortage of reasons why we love watching medical dramas.
At the hospital, it’s the doctors who are on the front lines, running into the emergency or operating rooms and making quick decisions that could leave them with a smile on their face or blood on their hands. But like anything, doctors come in all different shapes and sizes, from the traditional doctor at a metropolitan hospital to medical examiners who use their knowledge to save lives in a less orthodox way. TV has given us a varied and extensive set of doctors, but there are some who are just more memorable than others, making an impact through their eclectic personalities, roles in the show, or medical skills.
10
Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard
‘NCIS’ (2003–)
Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum) is certainly not the person who springs to mind when thinking of medical doctors, but his work in forensics at the NCISstill carries the same stakes as any other doctor. Instead of living patients, Ducky learns the secrets of the dead, performing autopsies and providing the investigative team with vital information so they can track down a criminal before they take another life. His work is just as invaluable as any other doctor.
Throughout the series, Ducky was the head Medical Examiner at NCISbefore he retired and became a historian. When McCallum tragically passed away, NCIS did a heartwarming tribute episode that encapsulated why we loved Ducky so much. Despite his morbid job, Ducky was always a bright bow-tie-wearing spot in the darkness of NCIS, comforting with his wry jokes and his wisdom. He may have only appeared in a handful of scenes in each episode, but he was a consistent creature comfort, easily becoming one of the most memorable doctors on TV.
9
Dr. Lisa Cuddy
‘House M.D.’ (2004–2012)
House is definitely one of the most popular medical dramas and has often been hailed as the most accurate. One of the more striking parts of it is the character of Dr. Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), the head of Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. At the beginning, she was one of the more underrated characters, who simply acted as another barrier for Dr. Gregory House’s (Hugh Laurie) antics, but everything changed after her character-centric episode, “5 to 9.” Before that, she was seen as a stringent rule-enforcer who was often bulldozed and even sexualized by House, but this episode humanized her.
In “5 to 9,” we get a glimpse into Cuddy’s day at the hospital, as she runs around trying to balance House’s mischief, expectations from the board of directors, demanding patients, and her own personal life. She is stretched thin and quickly earns our empathy and admiration for how she handles everything. Knowing how much work she does and how she is always trying to do the right thing makes her one of the most sympathetic, yet powerful doctors on TV, and who doesn’t love a well-written female lead?
8
Dr. Shaun Murphy
‘The Good Doctor’ (2017–2024)
The Good Doctor came out with the goal of raising awareness around autism while still hitting all those addictive beats of a medical drama, and during its run, it was a success. It follows Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), a genius doctor who has autism and savant syndrome, and sees medical conditions and treatments with an eye that no one can replicate or understand. Throughout the series, Murphy aids in difficult cases by lending his unique expertise, but struggles with the social aspects of being a doctor.
While Murphy is not the epitome of autism representation, he makes a good gateway to raising awareness and inspiring other shows to follow in The Good Doctor‘s footsteps. We see the ups and downs of his life and how he handles varying situations, all while impressing us with his incredible perspective on medicine. Murphy is certainly one of the more memorable doctors on TV, between the way he challenges medical norms and his endearing personal life that keeps us rooting for him.
7
Dr. Meredith Grey
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–)
As the protagonist of one of the most famous medical shows in TV history, Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) gives heart and nuance to the genre. She works her way from being an intern to the Chief of Surgery, offering a compelling character arc as a hard-working and compassionate doctor. Through her character, we are also exposed to the intricacies of being a woman in a male-dominated field, which is also combined with some harrowing, traumatic experiences that paint her as a strong, complex lead.
Of course, we can’t forget her romantic turmoil throughout the show, as she was involved in the most iconic medical TV couple next to Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), also known as McDreamy. Who couldn’t swoon at the passion and love evoked by her iconic Grey’s Anatomy quote: “pick me, choose me, love me”? But the chaos around this relationship also served to highlight Grey’s resilience, strength, and heart, as she faced tribulations that many women go through, including motherhood, while blending them in with the urgent environment of a hospital.
6
Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch
‘The Pitt’ (2025–)
Noah Wyle is no stranger to medical dramas, playing a doctor in the ’00s hit ERand returning in 2025 as the lead of another, The Pitt. But The Pitt is not like any medical drama you’ve seen, as its 15 episodes go through each hour of a 15-hour shift, becoming an unflinching look at the front lines of healthcare in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh. Wyle is at the center of the grueling shift as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch tries to save patients’ lives while contending with a hundred other things going on in the background. It’s haunting; it’s high-stakes; and it’s impossible to tear your eyes away from him.
Being the protagonist of this show that is redefining medical dramas already makes Robby a fairly memorable doctor, but his characterization is also compelling. While on the shift, we learn about Robby’s traumas, some relating to the pandemic, and the emotional baggage weighing him down while he tries to shove them away and focus on the task at hand. We admire him for his leadership and dedication, even if he is a little stern and straight-forward, making for an incredible TV doctor.
5
Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce
‘M*A*S*H’ (1972–1983)
M*A*S*H certainly isn’t the first show that pops up when you think of medical dramas, but it has all the hallmarks of an intense environment and interesting doctors at the forefront. Instead of a hospital, it is set during a war on the front lines, where we follow the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit. While dealing with medical emergencies, M*A*S*H also delves into the awful realities of war, contrasted by the humor that the characters use to cope with the brutal environment.
Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) is the protagonist of the show and the chief surgeon of the unit. What’s most striking about him is his sharp wit that starkly juxtaposes the morbidity of being in the midst of a war, but it is also what makes him so endearing. Throughout the show, he is vocal about his opinions on the war and can sometimes act impulsively, leading to high-stakes scenarios and blunders that make for compelling TV. While the show gives us a different take on the medical genre, even if it pre-dates most of the well-known shows, Hawkeye is the comedic, morally complex beacon at the center that makes an enduring impact on viewers.
4
Dr. John Carter
‘ER’ (1994–2009)
Ah, the medical drama that put Wyle’s name on the map and earned him a series of Emmy Awards. ERis one of the main shows that has set the stage for medical dramas, combining the patient-of-the-week formula with the staff’s overarching personal lives to create a whirlwind, gripping blend. Set at the County General Hospital in Chicago, ER immerses us in the rush of a hospital environment, and Wyle’s Dr. John Carter is one of the leads who are rushing down the corridors.
Part of his memorability is being the longest-running OG cast member on the show, but Carter was also compelling due to his emotional depth and complexity, especially during his character arc. He starts as a med student but gradually turns into a respected doctor who is reliable in any situation and can handle most of what is thrown his way. Throughout the show, his personal and professional lives face many challenges, from stabbings to addiction, each fleshing out the character, winning viewers’ hearts and cementing Wyle’s mastery over the TV doctor role.
3
Dr. Perry Cox
‘Scrubs’ (2001–2010)
While House is considered one of the most medically accurate shows, Scrubs is considered the most accurate when portraying the day-to-day life of doctors and the hospital environment. Moving away from the one-genius-doctor formula, Scrubs gives the stage to a range of doctors and focuses on more everyday conditions present in the hospital while intertwining them with doctors’ lives. Of this ensemble cast, it is Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) who wins our hearts: abrasive on the surface, but secretly a huge softie.
Dr. Cox acts as a mentor to protagonist J.D. (Zach Braff), initially embodying the role of a harsh and cynical trainer, but this is exposed as tough love. Even though he is difficult to get close to and sometimes shares qualities with major antagonists in the show, he ultimately prioritizes the patients and their welfare, always searching for the best way to help them. As such, Dr. Cox is definitely one of the more lovable doctors on TV, providing an endearing character stereotype that works perfectly in the show.
2
Dr. Miranda Bailey
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2005–)
Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is the heart and soul of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. She was first introduced to the series as a resident who trained interns and slowly worked her way up to Chief of Surgery, earning the position through and through. As a doctor, she has a no-nonsense approach that is balanced with heartfelt compassion that makes patients and colleagues alike trust her. She’s a formidable surgeon, a leader with integrity, and a mentor who hides vulnerable care underneath a tough surface.
Her personal life also resonates with viewers as she faces challenges in her two marriages and her relationship with her children. Like many doctors, she struggles to strike a work-life balance, but is fiercely protective and loyal. Professionally, sometimes conflict arises around her high standards, but considering how talented she is as a doctor, it is also one of her better traits. She’s the doctor you would want on your team if you ever had the misfortune of ending up in the hospital.
1
Dr. Gregory House
‘House M.D.’ (2004–2012)
You would think that you have to like people in some capacity to save them, but Dr. Gregory House tosses that sentiment in the trash and burns it, probably with a sarcastic comment on hand. He is misanthropic, rude, belligerent, and frequently breaks the law, but that’s exactly what makes him an amazing diagnostician. Instead of seeing his patients as humans, he sees them as puzzles to solve, diagnosing the rarest conditions with accuracy. He treats his team similarly, scorning their help and pitting them against each other for pleasure.
However, this attitude and perception are what are challenged throughout the show, as House’s personal struggles with addiction slowly take over his life, and he is forced to confront himself. Turns out, dehumanizing people may make him a genius diagnostician, but it takes away from being a good doctor. Many times, doctors need compassion and empathy to do their entire job and House eventually learns this, finding his own eccentric flavor of care. As far as TV doctors go, Dr. House is one that we certainly won’t be forgetting in a hurry, making a lasting impact on viewers and the genre.
