Grey’s Anatomy is packed full of endearing characters, giving audiences a plethora of key staff members to fall in love with. But not every member of Grey Sloan is made equal and many professionals are forced to climb the ranks to even get in the same room with the greats. As such, some cast members get swept up in vicious workplace conflicts, giving audiences something to really sink their teeth into.
Dahlia Qadri first joined the hospital in 2017 and quickly established herself as the superior force compared to her fellow interns. But, as she got more and more confident, senior members of staff believed that she needed to control her emotions and remember that she was on placement to learn. But the character’s exit from Grey’s Anatomy was something that ultimately became very divisive on the series and has remained unforgettable.
Dahlia Qadri Blended Hard Work With Tremendous Compassion
- Dr. Dahlia Qadri was one of the first main cast members to wear a hijab on the show.
- She also appeared in the spin-off web series Grey’s Anatomy: B-Team.
- During her school days, she was bullied because she was the only non-Mormon in her classes.
Much like her predecessors, Dr. Dahlia Qadri arrived at Grey Sloan as an intern and was keen to show off her skills. With a wealth of academic acclaim under her belt, Qadri didn’t hesitate to get stuck in and start rubbing shoulders with her superiors. Yet, fans didn’t fall in love with this doctor because of her booksmarts. Instead, viewers enjoyed her charming bedside manner and unique ability to tackle anything that came her way.
Dahlia Qadri may have been pretty headstrong, but oftentimes wore her heart on her sleeve. This is particularly evident in Season 14, Episode 13, “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” where she courageously removes her hijab so that she can use it to stop a young patient from bleeding out. Whether they enjoy Dr. Qadri’s presence or not, the vast majority of fans believe that this was a bold move on Grey’s Anatomy’s part. The fact that a devoted Muslim woman decided to remove her hijab in the presence of her male colleagues in an attempt to save a patient is incredibly brave and is a prime example of how Qadri’s quick-thinking attitude allows her to keep her patients alive. Although some fans criticized this scene, believing that this example was just an excuse to create shock value and leave a Muslim character without her hijab, many others note that it only strengthens the idea that Qadri is a woman of great faith. Regardless, this episode indicates that Qadri is more than just her academic achievements and uses her faith and morals to guide her even in the most distressing situations.
There’s no denying that Dr. Qadri is an incredibly smart woman and is always trying to better herself professionally. Though this can make her quite unlikable at times, this trait means that she’s always on hand to help out the rest of the surgeons. In Season 14, Episode 23, “Cold as Ice,” Qadri does not hesitate to conduct CPR on April Kepner despite recognizing that her peer is in danger. Though this concept has been shown time and time again, and the team at Grey Sloan is always willing to help out one of their own, the fact that Dr. Qadri quickly put her fears aside to get to work was quite admirable. As such, it’s evident that Dr. Qadri is not exactly a completely unique character, but her immense determination works to highlight the proud reputation of the hospital and how it only recruits the best professionals.
She Wasn’t Afraid to Lead Even as a Lower-Ranking Member of Staff
Die-hard fans of the show will agree that Grey Sloan runs like a well-oiled machine and, even from the start, interns have to earn the respect of their teachers. Although Dr. Qadri respects this concept, she doesn’t follow this rule exactly. In contrast, Dahlia enjoys being at the forefront of the action, gaining first-hand experience, and working with the latest developments in medicine. Though many fans see this trait as defective and often causes her to step on her peers’ toes, other viewers believe that this level of intentness is what gives her arc a much-needed touch of drama. For example, in Season 15, Episode 19, “Silent All These Years,” Qadri supports a sexual assault victim by helping to round up her female colleagues so that her patient wouldn’t have to come in close contact with other men during her trip down to the OR. This is an incredibly moving episode and showcases just how well Grey’s Anatomy handles topical issues and triggering subjects. Plus, this example elucidates how Qadri is not one to just sit in the corner and make notes. She wants to be involved in every case so that she can learn from her heroes, even if she wasn’t exactly invited to join them.
Dr. Qadri also encourages other doctors to adopt a patient-first approach, making her a positive example at Grey Sloan. In Season 15, Episode 18, “Add It Up,” Qadri treats a little girl called Nora and struggles to answer one of her math questions. Being the ever-determined spirit that she is, Qadri doesn’t settle. Instead, she recruits her colleagues to help her solve the problem and even sets up a quiz for the team to try out for themselves. Though this seems like a very minor example, this episode highlights Qadri’s ability to bring people together and also highlights how she makes even her young patients feel completely comfortable and at ease.
Not Everyone Appreciated Her Immense Drive
Although fans adored Dr. Qadri’s secure attitude, Dr. Bailey didn’t appreciate her tone. In Season 16, Episode 3, “Reunited,” Dr. Qadri became upset after working with Meredith Grey via a video call. The doctor noted that she joined the intern program at Grey Sloan to work with professionals like Meredith, not to talk to them over the phone. Unfortunately, Dr. Bailey didn’t see anything from Dahlia’s point of view and fired her on the spot. As such, Qadri was forced to find another placement and ended up moving to Michigan.
Although this conflict made for great TV, hoards of fans felt that her dismissal was entirely unfair. In reality, all Qadri did was stand up to Miranda Bailey. She wasn’t disrespectful or even unprofessional, yet Qadri was treated as if she had committed a grave offense. Not only were viewers upset about Qadri’s departure from the show, but they also developed a distaste towards one of Grey’s Anatomy’s longest-running cast members. Miranda Bailey is known for disrespecting and undermining her interns, but firing Dr. Qadri over a slight disagreement shows that power at Grey Sloan is held in the hands of a few and is quickly crumbling under pressure.
However, fans should not feel too upset because Sophia Ali did not leave the show on bad terms. She quit the show to pursue other projects and even secured a part in the rival show Chicago Med. It seems that the Grey’s Anatomy cast and crew valued Dr. Qadri as a source of representation but also as a fierce and passionate doctor. Showrunner Krista Vernoff posted a tribute to Ali on X, stating:
“We will miss the exquisite and delightful Sophia Taylor Ali as she heads to New Zealand for big TV & Film adventures! Bye Dr Dahlia Qadri! We love you.”
So, even though Dr. Qadri’s time on Grey’s Anatomy was cut fairly short, she still managed to create a strong bond with fans. As the medical drama prepares for the release of its 21st season, it’s fair to say that not every character evokes such a fond reaction. Thus, Dr. Qadri is a clear example of how positive representation can alter the way we consume certain characters on primetime TV.