Summary
- Dr. Beverly Crusher became Head of Starfleet Medical in Star Trek: Picard season 3, a position she also held when she was written off Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2.
- Fans supported McFadden's return, and she agreed to come back for TNG season 3 after Maurice Hurley left as showrunner. Dr. Crusher remained the CMO for the rest of the series and in the TNG movies.
- In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Crusher is promoted to admiral and becomes head of Starfleet's Medical Branch. Dr. Crusher has now held that position 35 years apart.
Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) got the same job at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3 that she had previously had all the way back in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2. Dr. Crusher first appeared in TNG season 1 as the Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Because TNG showrunner Maurice Hurley did not care for Crusher as a character or McFadden as an actress, she was fired before season 2 began. Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) replaced Crusher as the Enterprise-D's new doctor, but she proved to be less popular among TNG fans.
After Dr. Crusher's departure, fans wrote letters showing their support for Beverly as a character and asking for McFadden to be brought back to the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. When Hurley left as showrunner, McFadden was asked to return for TNG season 3. From then on, Dr. Crusher remained the Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise throughout the rest of the series and in the four TNG movies. Not long after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, Beverly apparently cut ties with her former crew mates and remained MIA for around 20 years. Dr. Crusher would not reunite with her TNG crew until she made a surprising return in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
