2. Julian Bashir
Given his backstory, perhaps it is appropriate that Julian Bashir receives second place on the list of Star Trek’s doctors. He did, after all, intentionally aim for second in his class at Starfleet Medical to hide his genetically modified status. Regardless, being the second best on this list is still pretty fantastic.
At the start of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Dr. Bashir is full of bright-eyed wonder and excitement. He is, in fact, rather abrasive about it. His experiences temper him a little bit, but he doesn’t lose his baseline positivity, even as we discover that his life is not always perfect. Plus, he is an exceptionally talented physician working on frontiers of both space and science.
1. Phlox
There are so many things that could be said about what a great physician Dr. Phlox is. For one, he offers an extensive knowledge of interstellar medicine for the Enterprise (NX-01) crew as they embark on their early space adventures. For another, he is a joyous proponent of curiosity that captures Star Trek’s core message of exploring and embracing diversity.
The fact that Phlox practices medicine the Denobulan way is also a vital part of what makes him the best doctor in Star Trek. That is not to say that Earth’s medical sciences and traditions are lacking, but setting Phlox outside of that adds the kind of storytelling and ethical pondering that Star Trek has at its best. On top of all of that, Dr. Phlox is just fun to watch!
They’re doctors, not afterthoughts!
Overall, Star Trek’s doctors are pretty awesome characters. Even the lower-ranked ones still have incredible moments where they truly shine. While other science fiction series, like Stargate SG-1 or Battlestar Galactica show that you don’t have to have a physician in the main cast, Star Trek shows how the story can be enhanced when the doctor is a major player.
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