Levi Schmitt first walked through the doors of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital along with a ragtag group of “substitute interns” at the start of Grey’s Anatomy Season 14. They seemed unprepared yet eager, and each one was ready to make an impression to be considered for an official internship. Unfortunately for Schmitt, his first impression solidified itself when his glasses fell into the open body cavity of a patient. Since then, he has fainted, been caught up in some messy cases, and he almost walked away from the whole profession. However, with the help of some great mentors, Schmitt chose to persevere, and now he is one of the most confident doctors in the hospital.
In Grey’s Anatomy Season 19, Schmitt does not walk around asking questions and second-guessing his every move. He calls out orders, encourages his friends, and makes sure everyone is giving the job their all. He is also the most relatable character when he tells the interns not to ask questions before 8am because he is overwhelmed and exhausted. With most of the conversations focusing on Meredith Grey’s departure and the new group of interns, fans need to take a second look and recognize that Levi Schmitt is the true star of Grey’s Anatomy Season 19.
He Takes His Position Seriously
At the very start of Grey’s Anatomy Season 19, Schmitt raced to Dr. Webber to beg for a position outside the OBGYN specialty. With some consideration, Schmitt was granted the only surgical senior resident position, but he also received a promotion as the Chief Resident. With this new role, he is in charge of overseeing the “loser and reject” group of interns that have been thrown together in Webber’s desperate attempt to keep the program alive. Regardless of the situation, Schmitt is grateful to be away from the screaming pregnant mothers.
Over the course of the season, Schmitt puts the group of misfits in their place, but he also offers them advice when he feels like they need a boost. When a couple of the interns go rogue and try to deal with patients on their own, Schmitt makes sure to create a lesson out of their fear and mistakes. Then, when Schmitt recognizes that the young doctors are slowly deteriorating and burning out, he reminds them that they are humans who need to pay attention to their own minds and bodies before focusing on patients.
For a while, Schmitt walks a fine line of being an authoritative boss who seems cold and unapproachable, but with advice from Dr. Bailey, he remembers that compassion and understanding go a long way in the medical profession.
He Supports His Friends
Though Dr. Jo Wilson truly wanted to kill Schmitt for leaving her OBGYN service in the beginning, he never meant for it to be personal. He tries to keep a relationship with her even while she is livid, but Jo does not let her guard down until she is at her most vulnerable. After confirmation that Jo’s adopted daughter, Luna, has progressive hearing loss, Jo internally spirals. From making phone calls and setting up appointments to considering her daughter’s overall future, Jo simply shuts down. Levi takes a chance to speak with her about it, and he eventually gets her to smile over the fact that he knows the sign for “butt.” After she laughs, Schmitt is proud to have lifted his friend’s spirits, but he is more relieved that the door to their friendship is still open.
As for Schmitt’s roommate and best friend, Taryn Helm, Schmitt is her biggest cheerleader. After burning out and calling it quits at the hospital, Helm works at the bar across the street. Schmitt advocates for her to come back to the hospital and be a senior surgical resident with him, but she argues that she has a lot more freedom and a lot less stress (not to mention more money) pouring drinks every night. Schmitt goes as far to speak with Dr. Webber about bringing Helm back into the program because her talent is being wasted at a dive bar.
Eventually, Helm is asked to come back and be co-Chief Resident with Schmitt, and he could not be happier. Rather than see his friend as competition, he is excited to have someone who will also speak up for the residents and interns when they feel like no one is listening to their concerns.
He Goes the Extra Mile with Patients
Many of the Grey’s Anatomy interns have gone above and beyond for their patients in the past. From proms being held in the hospital to weddings taking place in patients’ rooms, the doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital know that medicine is not the only thing that can help a person feel better. During Season 19, Schmitt is the one to step up and go the extra mile for his patients.
When Schmitt finds out that his patient, Grayson Friedman, is upset about canceling his bar mitzvah because his great-grandfather will not be able to travel to a rescheduled event, he concocts a plan. Being Jewish himself, Schmitt empathizes with how important the celebration is to a young man, so he makes the bar mitzvah happen in the hospital. Grayson is reluctant at first, but Schmitt tells him that his great-grandfather can complete the ceremony with him. Doctors, family members, and friends show up to attend and watch as both Grayson and his great-grandfather take pride in their faith.
Dr. Webber later approaches Schmitt and tells him that his ability to work with and care for children is rare, and that he should consider a pediatrics fellowship. Since Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 has been given a green light, fans should look forward to what the future has in store for Dr. Schmitt.