Brian Tee Reveals the Heartwarming Reason Dr. Choi Needed to Leave Chicago Med

Chicago Med Season 8 has been bringing viewers non-stop action, but it upped the ante with Brian Tee returning to the One Chicago set.

Tee is a Chicago Med fan favorite, starring as Gaffney's head of the ED, Dr. Ethan Choi, from the show's debut until the recent midseason finale. After romantically reuniting with his former flame, April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta), Dr. Choi left Chicago Med to launch a mobile clinic to help underserved communities in the city. The news of his departure was bittersweet for many Chi-Hards, but the blow was softened by Tee returning to direct a later episode of Chicago Med. (Tee had the honor of being at the helm for Season 8, Episode 17, titled "Know When to Hold and When to Fold.") 

NBC Insider chatted with Tee about his directorial debut and the legacy Dr. Choi left with his departure. He raved over the opportunity to "play with all my friends and family again," this time behind the camera as the director of the Season 8 episode. 

"It's been something that I've been aspiring to do for, what I would say, since the start of Chicago Med," Tee revealed.

When asked why Choi needed to leave Gaffney when he did, he says the character was answering a call to action.

"I think Choi wanted more. I think he needed to help the people he felt needed him the most," Tee says. "I think he loved Chicago Med, but he had a higher purpose in the sense of really trying to heal a city that is wounded. Especially in the inner cities, especially those that, you know, may be struggling either financially or situationally."

Tee adds, "I think he [Choi], being from Chicago, has this urgency to want to help and heal, especially those that need him the most. And I think that's why he chose this particular path and why he left Chicago Med."

When asked if he would ever return to the One Chicago universe, Tee gave NBC Insider a promising answer for Choi fans: never say never. But what would it take?

"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," Tee says. "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 continued, "So as far as story, and what it would take, it's hard to say because my heart will still always be on that set with the people that I've worked with. So in that context, you know, if there ever is an opportunity to come back and again, play with my friends, I absolutely would probably jump at the opportunity."

Let's keep our fingers crossed, Med fans!

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Watch Chicago Med on NBC Wednesdays at 8/7c and the next day on Peacock.