The medical drama "Chicago Med," part of NBC's "One Chicago" franchise, depicts the challenges faced by a team of Chicago's top medical professionals — both on the job and personally. One infamous character is Dr. Hannah Asher, played by actress Jessy Schram (per IMDb). According to FanSided, Hannah first appeared on "Chicago Med" during Season 5. Audiences initially only knew her as being a heroin addict that Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) helped at a safe injection site. It was later revealed that she was actually a doctor — and not only a doctor, but Will's co-worker. At first, Will refused to stand by as Hannah continued treating patients, despite her battle with drugs. He urged her to quit her job, even threatening to out her addiction to the hospital's chief medical officer if she didn't. Instead of revealing Hannah's addiction, though, Will began dating her, though their romance was rocky to say the least. Everything came to a head in Season 6: After a blowout fight with Will, Hannah accidentally overdosed, forcing her to re-evaluate her medical job and life in general. This led to her character leaving the show. But what was the real reason this controversial character left Chicago behind? If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
According to Distractify, Dr. Hannah Asher left "Chicago Med" during Season 6 and moved to Los Angeles to work on herself and overcome her heroin addiction. The show's producers didn't give a clear reason for the character's departure, but many fans could assume it was simply because her story arc had finished. This has happened with other "Chicago Med" characters who have been removed from the drama as part of a "creative decision." In other words, some characters, like Hannah, may not fit the current storyline the writers and producers have in mind.
And considering "Chicago Med" focuses on the lives of medical professionals working in a hospital, it makes sense that Hannah's character, who clearly needed treatment for her addiction, could no longer work in the show's fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. This left little room for her in the "One Chicago" universe. Her leaving the show also gave Dr. Will Halstead a chance to mingle with other potential love interests after breaking up with Hannah.
Despite some practical reasons for her character's demise, it turns out that "Chicago Med" isn't done yet with Hannah.
In a shocking twist, Dr. Hannah Asher reappeared on "Chicago Med" in episode 16 of Season 7. CBR reports that the episode revealed Hannah would be hired for a new leadership position in Chicago Medical Center's OB/GYN department. It's now been confirmed, per Deadline, that the controversial character will return as a series regular.
The show's producers told TVLine that they felt now was the right time to bring Hannah back after she worked on staying sober for two years. Executive Producer Andrew Schneider explained, "She has gone through a long period of rehab recovery ... and we wanted to bring this character back on the other side ... [we wanted to see] a very different side of her, having gone through this." Schneider also noted the challenges Hannah will face, saying she'll have to "outrun her reputation" in order to be successful. Expect to see more of Hannah in upcoming episodes of the medical drama.
Dr. Hannah Asher is making a comeback as Jessy Schram has returned to NBC’s Chicago Med as a series regular.
As seen at the end of Wednesday night’s episode, “May Your Choices Reflect Hope, Not Fear,” Hannah made her surprise reappearance as she took a new job at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center’s new emergency OBGYN service. Despite Hannah’s troubled past, Dr. Archer (Steven Weber) decided to give her a second chance.
Schram first appeared in the 12th episode of season five and was last seen in the Season 6 premiere. Her character battled with heroin addiction, which she hid from her colleagues. She was eventually arrested and placed into rehab. As of Season 7, Hannah is now two years sober and looking for a fresh start.
Her character also had a romantic relationship with Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss) during her previous stint on the show. But things fell apart due to Hannah’s drug addiction. Will their romance rekindle now that Hannah is clean?
Schram has most recently been starring in several features on the Hallmark Channel, Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas, A Nashville Christmas Carol, and Amazing Winter Romance. Her television credits include notable roles as Hannah Griffith in Veronica Mars, Rachel Seybolt in Life, Karen Nadler in Falling Skies, Bonnie Whiteside in Mad Men, and Cinderella/Ashley Boyd in Once Upon a Time.
The actor also weighs in on whether YaYa DaCosta could come back to the series and what’s coming next for the doc.
Hannah isn’t the only Chicago Med character to come back this season. Back in January, Brian Tee‘s Dr. Ethan Choi made his return to the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. Choi was absent while recovering from a gun-shot wound, while Tee was on hiatus to film the Prime Video limited drama The Expats.
Chicago Med, Wednesdays, 8/7c, NBC
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Any show that includes guns or machinery or stuff like that, you need to trust who's around you because blanks are flying.
Jessica Schram
January 15, 1986
Skokie, Illinois, USA
Height:
5' 7" (1.7 m)