Why did Rachel DiPillo leave Chicago Med? Star’s exit explored

NBC's long-running medical drama Chicago Med has introduced a bunch of characters, yet only a few remain memorable. Among them is Rachel DiPillo's Dr. Sarah Reese. She was introduced as a regular cast member in Season 1 of Chicago Med. She almost dropped off when she realised she didn't want to study pathology. But later, she changed her thoughts and, upon Dr. Charles's insistence, joined psychiatry. Reese struggled, learnt, and grew onscreen, which made her exit abrupt.

In the Chicago Med Season 4 premiere episode, she left Gaffney. Rachel DiPillo thus exited the show after Season 4. However, neither DiPillo nor the makers clarified the reason. But it seems like it was a mutual decision, and Rachel DiPillo willingly did not renew her contract. Turns out she did come back for a cameo in Chicago Med Season 10.

Here's what happened

Why did Rachel DiPillo leave Chicago Med?

Within the story, Dr. Reese left Gaffney because her trust in Dr. Charles, her mentor, was over. Their relationship had been central to her development. He guided her into psychiatry and helped her find confidence. Everything changed once her estranged father, Robert Haywood (Michel Gill), re-entered her life.

Reese learnt that her father had a violent past, and Charles even linked him with two murders. Her father later suffered a heart attack. Reese believed Charles could have done more to save him. This moment shattered her sense of trust in the hospital. She blamed Charles, felt misled, and no longer saw Gaffney as a place where she could continue her training. This is the reason why she walked out of the building in the Season 4 premiere.

Rachel DiPillo did not clarify any reason as to why she chose to leave the show. NBC also remained quiet. The only remark came from showrunner Andy Schneider (via TVLine), who said the writers would bring her back if the right storyline appeared.

The comment suggested that the departure was not due to conflict. The more likely explanation is that DiPillo did not renew her contract and left after the Season 4 premiere. After leaving Chicago Med, DiPillo stepped back to acting for many years. Her absence from the limelight proved that this might be a personal decision.

Why did Rachel DiPillo come back to Chicago Med Season 10?

Years after DiPillo left the medical drama, she rejoined the cast as a guest member in Season 10. The fans needed a closure on where she moved to since there were hardly any updates about her. Turns out she had not moved to Texas, she stayed back in Chicago and worked at a psychiatric centre. The change allowed her to continue pursuing her dream without the emotional weight tied to her past at Gaffney.

She returned to Gaffney because one of her patients was brought to the emergency department at the hospital. Reese followed the case and requested temporary privileges at Gaffney. This placed her back in the same space as Charles, and the tension between them ignited quickly. They clashed over treatment decisions. The return did not signal a full-time comeback; instead, it gave the audience answers about where Dr. Reese was for so many years.

Also read: Is Chicago Med still worth watching in 2025? A fresh look at the medical drama

Trending

Follow SoapCentral for more such updates.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback