North Carolina doctor inspired to study medicine by Grey’s Anatomy fulfills childhood dream and becomes show’s medical consultant
A Duke University neurosurgeon’s dream has come true after he was asked to become a medical advisor for the hit TV drama series Grey’s Anatomy.
Stephen Bergin, 35, a sixth-year resident at the hospital, decided to pursue medicine after becoming a regular viewer of the show, which ran for 21 seasons, while still in high school.
Following in the footsteps of the series’ beloved character, Dr. Derek Shepherd, better known to fans as McDreamy, Bergin decided to become a neurosurgeon at a young age.
When he was in his fourth year of residency at the hospital, the show’s producers put out a public call for doctors at Duke who wanted to be medical advisors for Season 19.
Stephen Bergin, 35, a sixth-year neurosurgeon in training, has had his dreams come true after he was asked to become a medical advisor on the hit TV drama series Grey’s Anatomy
Bergin, an avid fan, immediately seized the unique opportunity and applied for the position.
‘I was immediately interested in it because I had watched Grey’s Anatomy in high school and it inspired me to become a neurosurgeon.
‘The production always has medical specialists present for consultations and they want to have a resident physician in that group so that all the storylines about the resident physicians feel realistic.
‘I was in my fourth year of residency, which is also called a research year, so I had more time to take on the role.
“I applied, went for an interview and was lucky enough to be accepted,” Bergin told British news agency SWNS.
The Duke University Hospital doctor decided to save lives after becoming a regular viewer of the show, which ran for 21 seasons, during his high school years.
Bergin (center) is pictured with Caterina Scorsone who plays Dr. Amelia Shepherd (left) and Kim Raver who plays Dr. Teddy Altman (right) on set
In a video clip, he explains that he is involved as a consultant in devising the story for the series and that he provides the writers with real medical scenarios that they then incorporate into the script.
“We would get scripts from the showrunners or writers that literally said, ‘medical, medical, medical.’
‘My job was to fill in these lines with appropriate medical jargon.
‘I would also be asked for advice on the type of injury that might bring together two people working in different medical departments.
“For example, if they needed a reason to have a neurosurgeon and a cardiothoracic specialist in the same room together, I would think of the injury that made them both necessary.”
The senior resident has also appeared as an extra in the Emmy-winning series
But his role on set is not limited to that of an advisor.
Bergin has also occasionally assisted in filming by teaching actors how to use medical equipment, and he helped Ellen Pompeo with her lines during the season 19 finale, “Thunderstruck,” in October 2022.
‘When I was on set, I could talk to the actors about the words I had written.
‘At one point Ellen Pompeo repeated her lines and asked if there was an alternative way to say something.
‘I proposed a change which was approved, and then Ellen chanted over and over, “The doctor saved the script!”
“I helped Caterina Scorsone, who plays Amelia Shepherd, understand the correct way to use a spinal tool.
The Duke University resident is pictured here with Scott Speedman, who plays Dr. Nick Marsh on the show
“She was so dedicated to doing a great job. They all were! I was so impressed with their dedication and kindness to me.”
The senior assistant also appeared as an extra on the Emmy-winning series.
He shared a short clip of himself on X and wrote: ‘I found me! Helping transport patient after successful #greyanatomy surgery.’
Bergin is a physician and consultant, but also shares his experiences on set and as a neurosurgeon on social media to raise awareness.