The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Grey’s Anatomy left fans with some questions about the character, Dr. Amelia Shepard. The popular character was insinuated to be leaving Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. It is true that Caterina Scorsone (The November Man, Alice) will be taking some time off from the medical drama, but she will be back.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scorsone will be taking a leave from the show, as was announced at the end of the October 16th episode. She will not appear on the show until 2026.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, at the end of last season, Grey Sloan was rocked by an explosion, and after this season’s premiere, we learned the extent of the damage. Dr. Monica Beltran, played by Natalie Morales (Girls, Abby’s), had died in the explosion, and Dr. Shepard was devastated. Amelia and Monica had been on the precipice of exploring a romantic relationship, and the loss sent Amelia into a depressive spiral. This week’s episode showed the aftermath with her family, Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo (Daredevil, Old School), and Maggie Pierce, played by former cast member Kelly McCreary (Castle, White Collar). McCreary returned for this week’s episode.

Showrunner Meg Marinis spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about why she chose Beltran as the explosion’s sole casualty.

“While Amelia was so centered in that storyline at the end of last season with Piper [Perabo]’s character and with the child [in the season 21 finale], I wanted for us to believe that everything was kind of OK for Amelia after we saved Link’s [Chris Carmack] life. I also really wanted to deliver consequences of Amelia taking on all these impossible surgeries,” she said of Amelia also almost losing her ex, Link. “As Amelia mentions in the episode, she lost her father at a very young age, and that really propelled the way her life went.” via The Hollywood Reporter.

The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Scorsone has been a member of the Grey’s cast since 2010, when she guest-starred. She would be promoted to a main cast member in 2014, in the series’ 14th season. She also had a role in the spin-off series, Private Practice.