Medical dramas have been a staple of prime time television for decades. Hundreds of doctors have graced the small screen, but a few have stood out from the rest. Some are brooding anti-heroes, some compassionate caregivers. All of them are compelling characters that helped the medical-drama become one of the strongest television genres to date.

Marcus Welby

One of the first iconic TV doctors (the show Marcus Welby, M.D. debuted in 1969), Dr. Welby was known for going above and beyond physical treatment to connect personally with his patients. The show — led by actor Robert Young’s Dr. Welby—dealt with a range of groundbreaking issues, including rape, autism, and addiction, all alongside his younger counterpart, Steven Kiley.

Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy

According to Allied Health Institute, there is a wide range of specializations to choose from, so you could end up like Star Trek’s internal medicine specialist Dr. Leonard McCoy. He was known for relying heavily on the power of the human body to heal itself instead of solely on medicine and technology. Never shy to speak his mind, he was also known for getting into confrontations with his colleagues aboard the Starship Enterprise. He was serious about his medical duties and would respond to an odd job request with his trademark, “I’m a doctor, not a _____.” [Read more…]

Originally posted on April 3, 2015 @ 2:58 pm