Medical dramas are one of the most narratively-rich genres on television. It’s no surprise that series after series either get created or continually renewed each season. There’s certainly something to be said about medical professionals being everyday superheroes. Not to mention, of course, the plethora of storylines that can unfold in a hospital setting. Medical dramas have been known to provide everything from steamy romances to epic tragedies.
Updated May 21, 2023: If you love medical dramas, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve updated our list below with additional compelling series.
Indeed, doctors and surgeons are some of our favorite TV characters. That said, not every TV medical series is the same. Some are geared toward comedy, while others are more of a high-drama variety. What makes these shows truly compelling — and completely binge-worthy — is that they each bring something different to the table. Here are the best TV medical drama series, ranked.
15 Code Black (2015-2018)
Contrasting sharply with other medical dramas, Code Black, running from 2015 to 2018, forgoes the sleek, pristine environment of a wealthy hospital for the constant intensity and stress of an emergency room environment. The series adopts its name from a term indicating an ER so overwhelmed it cannot adequately treat all its patients, underlining the high-stakes nature of emergency medicine that constitutes the show’s framework.
The brutal, frequently chaotic ambiance of an overloaded emergency department is where Code Black truly shines, offering a raw depiction of life-altering choices made under severe duress. Its script intertwines personal narratives into the broader storyline without diminishing the setting’s inherent urgency. Marcia Gay Harden’s portrayal of the stern residency director Dr. Leanne Rorish, among others, contributes consistently outstanding performances, bolstering the series’ already a believable representation of emergency medicine. By combining its unflinching realism with powerful acting and writing, Code Black earns its place in the pantheon of top medical dramas.
14 The Good Doctor (2017 -)
Freddie Highmore of Bates Motel stars in yet another award-winning role in The Good Doctor as Shaun Murphy, a gifted autistic surgeon with incredible knowledge of medicine and methodology. Shaun’s stock rises as the newest surgeon at San Jose St. Bonaventure due to his unique ability to diagnose patients based on his skill to visualize the human body.
While lonely and unable to form personal connections with those around him, Shaun uses his medical prowess to save lives and challenge perceptions of autism and his skeptical colleagues. Recently The Good Doctor has broken out online as a meme, with many questioning the series’ depiction of autism. Yet after six seasons, it is still engaging audiences.
13 Saving Hope (2012-2017)
Making its debut in 2012, Saving Hope is a captivating Canadian medical drama that held viewers spellbound till its curtain call in 2017. The story orbits Hope Zion Hospital in Toronto, delving into the lives of Dr. Alex Reid, a committed surgeon, and her soon-to-be husband, Dr. Charles Harris, who slips into a coma post a horrific accident. Whilst his physical form lays inert, his spirit ambulates the hospital halls, engaging with fellow spectral entities. This tantalizing fusion of medical realism and spectral aspects carves a unique niche for the show.
The show courageously explores the grim and intense realities of a hospital. Each episode adeptly integrates medical knowledge, presenting surgical procedures and medical operations with impressive veracity. This element of realism anchors Saving Hope, offering a tangible, resonating facet for its viewers. Nevertheless, the brilliance of the series is underscored by its creative infusion of supernatural elements. The concurrent exploration of the tangible and intangible realms, the corporeal and the metaphysical, infuses intricacy and depth into the plotline. The wandering spirit of Charles within the hospital provides the audience with an alternative viewpoint, a perspective that counterbalances the brutal truths of life-and-death choices with a sprinkle of the spiritual. This unprecedented blend of medical authenticity and spiritual investigation is what makes Saving Hope a captivating medical drama.
12 New Amsterdam (2018-2023)
Innovative in its approach to the saturated genre of medical dramas, New Amsterdam emerged in 2018. Its narrative skillfully fuses the common formulas of hospital dramas with an engaging twist centered around Dr. Max Goodwin’s relentless efforts to dismantle bureaucracy and deliver unmatched care in one of America’s oldest public hospitals. Instead of conforming to the conventional “patient-of-the-week” pattern, the show opts for a storyline that encompasses a broader spectrum, plunging into systemic issues impacting healthcare delivery, such as insurance complications and staffing shortages. This incredible medical drama is a refreshing breeze into the genre and a much-needed break away from traditional clichés.
An impressive ensemble cast is what sets New Amsterdam apart, with Ryan Eggold’s charismatic and empathetic depiction of Dr. Goodwin at the forefront. Each character displays intricate layers, with their personal battles intersecting with their professional obligations, lending emotional gravity and depth to the plot. The show’s readiness to confront the stark realities of American healthcare, rather than gloss over or simplify them, becomes a considerable asset to the wider narrative of the show. Hence, New Amsterdam offers audiences a unique spin on the medical drama genre, proving to be a captivating choice for those desiring something different.
11 Royal Pains (2009 – 2016)
Royal Pains ran on the USA Network from 2009 to 2016 and was based in part on actual concierge medicine practices of independent doctors and companies. The cast of the show includes Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Henry Winkler, and Campbell Scott, and follows Hank Lawson, a young emergency room doctor who, after being wrongly blamed for an important patient’s death, moves to the Hamptons and becomes a reluctant house-call doctor to the rich and famous.
When the administrator of the local hospital asks him to treat the town’s less fortunate, he finds himself walking the line between doing well for himself and doing good for others. It was a feel-good summer show that was best consumed after a long day at the beach (or pool).
10 Private Practice (2007 – 2013)
A spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy,Private Practice takes place at Seaside Health & Wellness Center and chronicles the life of Dr. Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh, as she leaves Seattle Grace Hospital in order to join a private practice located in Los Angeles. The compelling medical drama also revolves around Addison’s co-workers and how they deal with patients and the practice while still finding time to live their everyday lives.
The series was created by Shonda Rhimes, who also serves as executive producer. Running for six seasons, Private Practice may seem like a lesser-known series in Shondaland’s empire, but it still holds as one of the best.
9 The Resident (2018 – 2023)
The Resident provides a look into the bureaucratic world of the medical field as seen through the staff of Atlanta, Georgia’s Chastain Park Memorial Hospital. The series follows titular resident Conrad Hawkins, an idealistic doctor who, on his first day, is handed off to a no-nonsense senior resident who reveals to him the truth of the hospital system’s inner workings.
Through his eyes, we see the side of the medical field that rarely gets shown on television, the good and evil of medical ethics, and malpractice. The Resident ran for six seasons and has provided audiences with a lot of great high-stakes entertainment.
8 Chicago Med (2015 -)
Chicago Med is the third installment of the gripping Chicago TV series franchise and centers on the vital medical professionals working in the emergency department at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, with the riveting series depicting the lives of the highly-skilled men and women as they tackle a diverse assortment of cases and patients that come through their doors. As with its companion shows, the drama frequently features cross-over episodes and appearances by characters from Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., and the popular program continues to deliver strong ratings.
7 Nurse Jackie (2009 – 2015)
Nurse Jackie holds the title of having Showtime’s highest-rated premiere ever. On the air for seven award-winning seasons, Showtime’s hit dark comedy Nurse Jackie stars Edie Falco as a nurse working through day-to-day life at All Saints Hospital in New York City. She’s often at the center of many memorable dramatic moments, frequently with the help of prescription drugs. With a predominantly women cast, Nurse Jackieis undoubtedly a feminist series that shows us just how much nurses are relied on by their better-paid superiors. A revival of Nurse Jackie is currently in the works at Showtime.
6 Grey’s Anatomy (2005 -)
The longest-running medical drama in history aired for the first time in 2005. Since then, Grey’s Anatomy has been going strong with no official signs of stopping yet. For almost 20 years, this hit series has captured hearts and awards as it follows Meredith Grey from her beginnings at Seattle Grey as a surgical intern all the way to the rank of Chief of General Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
With a revolving cast, crazy storylines, breathtaking romance, and the strongest leading ladies in television, Grey’s Anatomy keeps viewers hooked every week. Grey’s Anatomy was recently renewed for season 20 and certainly doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
5 ER (1994 – 2009)
Developed by Michael Crichton, ER was the first contemporary medical drama to air on television. Taking place in the fictional County General Hospital in Chicago, the series has given viewers memorable characters, emotional stories, and plenty of tension, as well as plenty of blood.
Many non-viewers know of this hit series as the launchpad for some of their favorite stars to get their start: actors like Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, the late Vanessa Marquez, and most notably, George Clooney. ER is the second-longest-running medical drama behind Grey’s Anatomy. Many of the other programs on this list were likely inspired by this award-winning drama as it set the standard for all shows like it to come after.
4 Call The Midwife (2012 -)
Call The Midwife is a BBC original series set in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This period drama tells the story of London midwives working in a period of great upheaval. The leading ladies are ordained nuns, part of a nursing order known as the Nonnatus House. Unlike most series on this list, this one unfolds without the use of melodrama and excess and approaches serious topics in a practical sense and an honest look at mid-century medical practices as they relate to birth and sexual health.
3 M*A*S*H (1972 – 1983)
Inspired by the Robert Altman film of the same name, this legendary series was centered on the Korean War, with M.A.S.H. following a mobile hospital unit. Both this series and its film adaptation ran during the height of the Vietnam War, with many critics viewing the show as an allegory for the conflict.
M.A.S.H. might have been billed as a comedy, but it had plenty of dramatic moments, particularly in the later seasons. This series ran for 11 years thanks in part to its character-building and development, humor, and situational drama to keep viewers hooked until the very end.
2 The Knick (2014 – 2015)
Set in 1900, New York City, The Knick follows Clive Owen as Dr. John W. Thakery, a man balancing his addictions with his ambition for medical discovery as he takes up the position of Chief Surgeon at the Knickerbocker Hospital. The troubled doctor dives into the unknown as he struggles with the limitations of medical understanding and practices while trying to minimize death rates.
This masterful, two-season Steven Soderbergh drama shows the dismal reality that was the dawn of modern medical practices. Depicting scenes with natural lighting and portraying graphic surgical procedures, The Knick is a medical drama set in a period rarely tackled and stands out among all other dramas on this list for its artistry, intellect, and incredible performances; if only it ran for more episodes, it might be more substantial than perhaps the biggest and best medical show on TV.
1 House (2004 – 2012)
With a precise combination of mystery, methodology, and character studies, House was a multi-Emmy-winning series that kept fans coming back to follow the genius doctor through all his highs and lows. To this day, it’s one of the most well-regarded medical dramas ever to hit television. Dr. Gregory House is an antisocial but wildly intelligent doctor with a crippled leg and an opioid addiction. When not focusing on medical mysteries, the show also explores House’s personal life, from his addiction to his relationships with his co-workers and to his interesting and oftentimes hilarious interactions with his patients of differing personalities.
Partially inspired by Sherlock Holmes, House was the medical drama that provided the perfect mix of real-life medical issues with character drama and featured plenty of future stars, including Jennifer Morrison and Olivia Wilde. House is a drama that always keeps audiences guessing.
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