Sarah Rafferty may be best known for her role as legal secretary Donna Roberta Paulsen in the legal drama Suits, but she needs to revisit her Chicago Med role more. She portrayed Dr. Pamela Blake in the One Chicago medical series on the heels of Suits' ending. Both of her characters are charismatic, intelligent, and successful in their respective professions, and also fall in love with their co-workers. Paulsen's complex relationship with Harvey Specter is one of the greatest pairings in Suits, while Blake's mentorship and chemistry with Dr. Crockett Marcel is a major highlight in Med's seventh season.
Rafferty's characters were also faced with tricky situations, including Paulsen tackling tough cases and Blake's complications after surgery on her hands. Fortunately, both managed to overcome their obstacles with tenacity and persistence. If Rafferty is to reprise one of these characters, however, it should be Dr. Blake because this character left Chicago Med. By contrast, while Paulsen can return in Suits L.A., her story is already complete after a nine-season run on Suits and marrying Specter in the Suits series finale.
Sarah Rafferty's Role As Pamela Blake In Chicago Med Explained
Blake Was One Of The Best Chicago Med Characters In Season 7





Dr. Pamela Blake is introduced in Chicago Med season 7, episode 5, as the new leader of the transplant department. Blake instantly stands out among the doctors at Gaffney thanks to her quick thinking and distinguished skills when operating on patients. It didn't take Blake long to acquaint herself with Dr. Crockett Marcel by teaching him and having the doctor assist her with challenging transplant cases. Initially, Blake is stern with Marcel and the doctors under her mentorship, signifying how seriously she takes her job and leadership role. But throughout the season, she earns the respect of everyone at Gaffney.
Sarah Rafferty's Dr. Pamela Blake made her first appearance in Chicago Med in season 7, episode 5, and her final appearance in the season 8 premiere.
Blake and Marcel are great colleagues who develop a romantic relationship. However, this relationship takes some serious turns when Blake learns that her daughter, Avery Quinn, has feelings for Marcel. Avery's interference doesn't last long, but when Blake decides to trust Marcel to make medical decisions for her regarding numbness in her hands, she is distraught when her mobility doesn't instantly return after surgery. Blake breaks up with Marcel because she believes he took advantage of her dilemma to take over her position at Gaffney.
Donna Had A Complete Story In Suits, But Chicago Med's Pamela Doesn't
Pamela Deserves Closure Or To Continue Her Story In Chicago Med
Donna Paulsen has already fulfilled her story in Suits by rising from legal secretary to chief operations officer of the Pearson Specter Litt law firm. Paulsen's working relationship with Harvey Specter and building their romantic bond over time further establish Donna as a bright and dominant presence on Suits. By contrast, Dr. Pamela Blake's storyline in Chicago Med is just getting started and deserves to continue because she wasn't given a proper conclusion after the surgical procedure for her hands. Blake and Marcel have a final meeting, but it was a cold and unsatisfying goodbye for the transplant surgeon.

Chicago Med Season 10 Pays Off An Underrated Duo From The 2025 One Chicago Crossover (But With A Twist)
A surprising, but intriguing duo introduced during the 2025 One Chicago crossover on NBC returned in an episode of Chicago Med season 10.
Fortunately, Dr. Blake regained the full function of her hands after some recovery time. However, due to her contrasting views on Marcel's medical decision-making for her, Blake doesn't want to work with him at Gaffney anymore. It is revealed in season 8 that Blake plans to take a surgical position at a Boston hospital. This makes it challenging for Blake to ever make a return to Gaffney in the near future, but because of her familiarity with the staff and her tremendous work ethic, the surgeon could decide to go back to Chicago if she wants to.
How Rafferty's Pamela Can Return In Chicago Med
Pamela Can Collide With Some Of The New Doctors In Med
While it seems unlikely that Dr. Blake will come back to Chicago Med, it wouldn't be impossible because the One Chicago franchise has a reputation for seeing beloved characters come and go. Having Blake return to Gaffney next season or sometime after that wouldn't be out of the question. The show could reveal what happened to Blake after her final confrontation with Marcel, as well as a brief look at her work in Boston. Perhaps a complex transplant case linking the hospitals in Boston and Chicago could lead to a surprise appearance by Blake in Med.
Having Blake re Gaffney next season could also lead to some intriguing confrontations with other doctors she hasn't met yet, including Dr. Caitlin Lenox, who is reminiscent of Blake's operating and leadership skills but with a much stricter outlook.
Although Dr. Marcel isn't a part of Chicago Med anymore either, he could also return to the show after his sudden departure in order for him to make amends with Blake or even rekindle their relationship. Having Blake re Gaffney next season could also lead to some intriguing confrontations with other doctors she hasn't met yet, including Dr. Caitlin Lenox, who is reminiscent of Blake's operating and leadership skills but with a much stricter outlook. Dr. Blake should have her story extended for a few more seasons to prove she still has what it takes to work at Gaffney.
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Chicago Med season 10 airs Wednesdays at 8 pm on NBC.

Chicago Med
- Release Date
- November 17, 2015
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Michael Brandt
Cast
- Marlyne BarrettMaggie Lockwood
- S. Epatha MerkersonSharon Goodwin
- Directors
- Michael Waxman, Michael Pressman, Charles S. Carroll, Milena Govich, Anna Dokoza, Bethany Rooney, Fred Berner, Tess Malone, Mykelti Williamson, SJ Main Muñoz, Donald Petrie, Martha Mitchell, Vincent Misiano, Timothy Busfield, Jonathan Brown, John Polson, Stephen Cragg, Anthony Nardolillo, Michael Berry, David Rodriguez, Afia Nathaniel, Oz Scott, Valerie Weiss, Gonzalo Amat
- Writers
- Joseph Sousa, Lily Dahl, Natalie Drayer, Darin Goldberg, Shelley Meals, Melissa R. Byer, Treena Hancock, Mary Leah Sutton, Simran Baidwan, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Jason Cho, Will Pascoe, Liz Brixius
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Creator(s)
- Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Matt Olmstead
- Producers
- Matt Olmstead, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Arthur W. Forney, Dick Wolf, Peter Jankowski, Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov, Stephen Hootstein, Rebecca McGill, Eli Talbert, Leigh Cousins, Daniel Sinclair, Anastasia Puglisi, Meridith Friedman, Niki Delone, Jeff Drayer, Danny Weiss, Safura Fadavi, Nicole Rubio, Joe Chappelle, Lauren Mackenzie, Mike Weiss, Andrew Gettens
- Seasons
- 10
- Story By
- Michael Brandt
- Streaming Service(s)
- Peacock
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