61 Years Later, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Introduces Enterprise's Doctor Replacement (Not Bones McCoy)

Published Aug 27, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4, Episode 6 - "Off-Hour"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reintroduces a classic USS Enterprise doctor, in a big surprise. And no, it's not Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, although he will eventually appear too. Thomas Jane was cast as Bones, who will debut in the series finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds at the end of season 5, along with Hikaru Sulu, played by Kai Murakami.

Directed by Dan Liu and written by Bill Wolkoff, the riveting and sensational Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 6, "Off-Hour," sends the USS Enterprise into a crisis when the starship is trapped in a slipstream wormhole. As the Enterprise threatens to fall apart, however, Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) is mortally wounded in a terrible accident.

Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) risks her own life to save M'Benga's. Using Joseph's own research to cure his sick daughter in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 8, "The Elysian Kingdom," Christine's desperate gambit to harness strong force neutrinos both restores the Enterprise's warp drive and gives her the means to save M'Benga's life.

However, tending to the wounded in the Port Galley, including Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) and Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck), is the Starship Enterprise's other doctor who just came back aboard after his lone appearance in Star Trek: The Original Series' rejected pilot, "The Cage."

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Re-Introduces Dr. Phil Boyce

Dr. Phil Boyce, played by Brian Markinson, returns to Star Trek canon in Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 6. The first and only time Boyce was seen was in "The Cage," where he was played by John Hoyt. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds establishes that Boyce is now the beta shift Chief Medical Officer when Dr. M'Benga is off-duty.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reveals that Dr. Boyce was only the USS Enterprise's interim Chief Medical Officer in "The Cage," and he left the USS Enterprise when Dr. M'Benga took the position. Boyce transferred to the USS Sunita, but he didn't get along with the crew. Surprisingly, M'Benga requested Boyce's return to the Enterprise.

In "The Cage," Dr. Boyce was the prototype for Dr. Leonard McCoy, acting as a bartender and confidante to Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) as well as his doctor. John Hoyt and Dr. Boyce were axed at NBC's order when the network approved a second Star Trek pilot by Gene Roddenberry. Only Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) stayed in the show as every character was reworked and recast.

Although it should have been expected, given how Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which centers on Captain Pike, Number One, and Spock, has reintroduced many legacy characters from "The Cage," there was no fanfare for Dr. Boyce's appearance. The USS Enterprise's first doctor in its original pilot episode now has a surprise role in Strange New Worlds... to possibly replace Dr. M'Benga.

How Dr. Boyce Changes Star Trek: Strange New Worlds USS Enterprise Doctor Situation

Although rotating shifts aboard starships and starbases have always been part of Star Trek, Strange New Worlds season 4 has placed more focus on the idea that Captain Pike's senior staff are the "alpha shift," who are relieved by the "beta shift" in their off-hours. Dr. Boyce is the beta shift Chief Medical Officer who takes over Sickbay when Dr. M'Benga and Nurse Chapel clock out.

The USS Enterprise has yet another Chief Medical Officer before Bones McCoy takes over, Dr. Mark Piper, who may also appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

As Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' "Off-Hour" teases, Dr. M'Benga is thinking about leaving Starfleet, and he arranged for Dr. Boyce's return to take over as Chief Medical Officer when and if Joseph decides to beam off the Enterprise. Learning M'Benga's plans sparked an argument with Chapel, who felt she would also leave since she didn't think she could work with Dr. Boyce.

Indeed, Chapel disobeyed Boyce's orders to leave M'Benga to die when he assumed the role of acting CMO. Christine ultimately came up with a way to save both Joseph and the Enterprise, which earned her grace with Captain Pike and makes it harder for Boyce to discipline Christine if they work together while M'Benga recuperates.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, episode 6 reveals that Nurse Chapel was on temporary assignment this whole time. Christine requested a permanent assignment after her ordeal, and her big win made her realize she belongs on the Enterprise. However, this may mean working with Dr. Phil Boyce as Chief Medical Officer if Dr. M'Benga does depart.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4's new episodes premiere Thursdays on Paramount+

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  Captain Christopher Pike

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  Spock