Name Actor / actress Starring seasons Recurring seasons Occupation at Grey Sloan (or its predecessors) Job Title April Kepner Sarah Drew 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 6 Attending Trauma Surgeon M.D., FACS First introduced as a surgical resident from Mercy West Hospital during the merger, April Kepner is fired by Richard Webber in Season 6 due to a mistake she made that cost a patient her life. She is later rehired by Derek Shepherd during his run as Chief because he believes her dismissal was unfair, and she eventually develops a crush on him, despite his marriage to Meredith Grey. In the Season 6 finale, she tells him that her best friend, Reed Adamson, has been shot and killed. She later runs into Mr. Clark (the shooter) when Derek is shot. Clark lets her go when she emotionally tells him everything about her life. Although April becomes Chief Resident in the Season 7 finale, she fails to pass her Medical Boards and is later fired from Seattle Grace; however, she asked to come back by Owen Hunt because of her strong work ethic, and she later passes her boards. At her wedding to EMT Matthew Taylor, her best friend and former fling, Jackson Avery, realizes he still loves April and stands up, professing his love. Jackson and April run off and elope; soon after, it is discovered that April is pregnant. However, Jackson and April learn that their unborn baby has a fatal condition, and April is forced to give birth to their stillborn son, Samuel, which causes tension between her and Jackson. Although they get divorced in Season 11, April gives birth to their daughter, Harriet, in the Season 12 finale after they have a one - night stand. In Season 14, April has a crisis of faith following the death of a patient but eventually rediscovers her connection with God. Nathan Riggs Martin Henderson 12, 13, 14 * N / A Attending Cardio - thoracic Surgeon M.D., FACS Nathan is introduced in Season 12 as Owen Hunt 's old friend from the army. Though they used to be best friends, Owen is not happy with Nathan 's appearance, and it is later revealed that the cause of their feud is that Owen blames Nathan for his sister, Megan 's, disappearance almost 10 years ago. Nathan and Megan were engaged, but Nathan had cheated on her in the days leading up to her kidnapping. Still, Nathan works hard at Grey Sloan Memorial as an attending cardiothoracic surgeon, where he works under Maggie Pierce. Eventually, Owen and Nathan make up, just as Nathan spontaneously sleeps with Meredith Grey in the back of her car. After they sleep together, Nathan realizes his feelings for Meredith, as they both bond over the loss of a loved one, and continuously pursues her. Though Meredith resists his advances for some time after finding out that Maggie likes him, she eventually gives in and sleeps with him during a hectic plane ride, thus beginning their relationship. They date for some time until Megan is found. Nathan and Megan try to resume their relationship, but it struggles to take off when Megan believes that Nathan is still in love with Meredith. Still, with Meredith 's pushing, Nathan brings home Megan 's son, Farouk, from Iraq, showing that he truly loves Megan. Nathan departs from Grey Sloan Memorial after he, Megan, and Farouk move to Los Angeles to restart their lives. Benjamin "Ben '' Warren Jason George 12, 13, 14 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Attending Anesthesiologist, General Surgical Resident M.D. Ben Warren is introduced as an anesthesiologist from Mercy West Hospital in Season 6. He also becomes boyfriend of Miranda Bailey until she breaks up with him after the shooting, finding herself unable to be in a relationship after such a traumatic experience. Ben tries to stay away from Miranda, but they eventually start working together again, though she has begun a relationship with a nurse named Eli. However, she eventually ends things with Eli and reunites with Ben. He proposes to Miranda during Season 8, and she accepts. After they get married, Ben gets the chance to become a surgical intern in California. He accepts, much to Bailey 's distress. He eventually returns as a surgical resident at Grey Sloan. When talking to Shepherd about his fears for Bailey developing OCD, he realizes he inadvertently reported her, thus straining their marriage. Still, they get through it until Ben decides to change careers for the third time when he wants to become a fireman. This angers Bailey, as she believes he is throwing away the chance to be a great surgeon, but they eventually reconcile.
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April Kepner April Kepner