Chicago Med's Torrey DeVitto Would Love To Work In Psychiatry If She Were A Real Doctor

"Chicago Med" continues to be one of Dick Wolf's most prolific procedurals on NBC. Part of the "One Chicago" franchise, which comprises "Fire," " P.D.," and at one point "Justice," "Med" puts the focus on the hardworking physicians at the fictional Gaffney Chicago Medical Center. With over 140 episodes produced, "Chicago Med" is one of NBC's most popular shows, bringing in over 6 million viewers for its Season 8 debut in 2022 (via Showbuzz Daily).

The series features a revolving door of guests and leading players, though certain fixtures dominate Gaffney's emergency room. At the heart of the series is Dr. Will Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss), an emergency room doctor who falls for Dr. Natalie Manning (Torrey DeVitto). Their will-they-won't-they served as the emotional crutch for audiences, allowing them to see the personal lives of their favorite doctors unfold. DeVitto has worked with the series for several years, leaving the Windy City behind after a guest appearance in Season 7.

Working on "Chicago Med" can be an insightful experience, as it allows the cast and crew to see firsthand the challenges and passion of working in the medical field. The medical world is more extensive than just emergency and family doctors, and "Chicago Med" sheds light on those who deliver exceptional results. For DeVitto, her heart lies in psychiatry, a practice that she finds fascinating.

Playing Dr. Natalie Manning, Torrey DeVitto has also appeared in Dick Wolf's "Chicago Fire" and "P.D." during the franchise's many crossovers. Manning's specialty lies in pediatrics, making her one of the best physicians on the team to care for younger patients. Despite playing the doctor for seven seasons, DeVitto wouldn't consider attending medical school to become a pediatrician.

In an interview with The Nerds of Color, DeVitto revealed that if she were an actual doctor, she would instead focus on psychiatry. "I would want to work in psychiatry, I think. Yeah, I find the human psyche and human mind to be so fascinating," the actress shared. Some of the star's on-screen psychiatry colleagues include Dr. Daniel Charles (Oliver Platt) and, during Seasons 1 through 4, Dr. Sarah Reese (Rachel DiPillo).

Seeing as "Chicago Med" has its stars regularly train with doctors, it seems that DeVitto is genuinely excited about the practice of psychiatry. Chicago trauma and burn surgeon Dr. Andrew Dennis was brought on board to make the series as authentic as possible when it comes to portraying the several different practices seen on screen. Per ScreenSlam, Dr. Dennis confirmed that he put the actors through a medical bootcamp, allowing them the opportunity to understand the nuances of their roles.

For DeVitto, it's vital that a doctor exude empathy. She followed up by saying that the "most important part of being a caregiver is understanding what that patient needs in that moment and not just saying 'yes.' It's deeper than that. So anyway, I'm into the brain, and psychiatry, I think, is very fascinating."