Patrick Dempsey praises Grey’s Anatomy for “inspiring so many people” to work in medicine

Patrick Dempsey has praised Grey’s Anatomy for how it has inspired people to get into medical professions.

The actor, who played Derek Shepherd/McDreamy in the show between between 2005 and 2015, recently reflected on the show during an appearance on Good Morning America.

“[Grey’s Anatomy] has really inspired so many people to go into the medical profession,” he said.

“I think that’s been the biggest gift coming out of that show, is to be able to do something positive and give back.”

The actor also quipped that the show has “given me the platform to be able to do the Ferrari movie and to be able to have [the Sexiest Man Alive title]”.

Dempsey has gotten into the healthcare sector himself, in a sense, as he opened the Dempsey Centre in his home state of Maine, which provides free care for people who are battling cancer.

“We don’t treat the disease, we treat the person holistically with wrap-around care. Our goal is to reach everybody who has been impacted in the state of Maine and also then to spread the word of this is what you need to do to complement the traditional approaches of fighting cancer, and it should be standardized care,” he explained.

“We do spend so much time and energy on research and developing the drugs that are important, but we forget about healing the human being. Not only the patient but the family and everyone around them that’s been impacted.”

The actor opened the Centre in 2008, after seeing what his mother went through with cancer.