ABCDerek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey)We may never know the full story over Dempseys fallout with Greys, but at least Shonda & Co. had the good sense to know that only death would do Derek part from Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). And so, in Season 11, Derek died of medical incompetence at Dillard Medical Center after he was hit by a semi.ABCStephanie Edwards (Jerrika Hinton)Hinton chose to leave the show after Season 13, and Stephanie literally went out in a blaze of glory, setting the hospital on fire to save a young girl from a sexual predator. And after narrowly escaping with her life, Steph realized that she wanted to experience life outside of a hospital for once.ABCGeorge OMalley (T.R. Knight)Knight exited the show after Season 5, citing disappointment with Georges storyline and a communication breakdown with Rhimes, and George died after saving a stranger from the path of an oncoming bus. An abrupt ending, yes, but a heroic one, at least.ABCCristina Yang (Sandra Oh)Oh gave a full seasons notice, specifying that Season 10 would be her last before the season even premiered. And so the Greys writers had time to give her a fitting sendoff, with her old flame Burke handing her the keys to a cutting-edge cardiothoracic research center in Switzerland.ABCPreston Burke (Isaiah Washington)In the wake Washingtons gay slur scandal, ABC didnt confirm his firing from Grey's until after Season 3 had already concluded, but the writers must have seen the writing on the wall. In the Season 3 finale, Burke realized that his wedding to Cristina wasnt what she wanted, and he disappeared until the aforementioned reprise in Season 10.ABCCallie Torres (Sara Ramirez)According to Rhimes, Ramirez didnt give the writers a heads-up that the Season 12 finale would be her last episode. To her credit, though, she picked an opportune time to bail: Callie was getting ready to leave for a new life in New York City in that finale.ABCMark Sloan (Eric Dane)Mark only lasted two episodes more than Lexie, succumbing to his injuriescardiac tamponade, to be specificafter being airlifted back to Seattle. It was a sad epilogue to the plane crash drama, but at least Mark regained consciousness long enough to spend quality time with his friends at the hospital. ABCAddison Montgomery (Kate Walsh)Anyone who didnt watch the premiere of Greys spinoff Private Practice missed the scene where Addison quits her job at the hospital then known as Seattle Grace, but the character made plenty of return trips to her former workplace.ABCApril Kepner (Sarah Drew)After surviving a near-death experience (and after Drew and costar Jessica Capshaw got their walking papers during Season 14), April found her happily-ever-after with ex-fiance-turned-husband Paramedic Matthew (Justin Bruening) and left the hospital to work with Seattles homeless population. Its a fitting ending for such a good-hearted character but would April really give up surgery that easily?ABCArizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw)Once daughter Sofia started missing her NYC life, Arizona decided she and Callie should be co-parenting in the same city, and she opted to relocate to the Big Apple. Greys gets points for teasing the potential of a Calzona reunionwith Callie and Arizona flirting via text message before the movebut the show loses points for not bringing Sara Ramirez back to close out Arizonas storyline.ABC/Screencap by Home of the NuttyIzzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl)Heigls discontentment on the Greys set made national news during Season 6, but the ending fans gotIzzie fleeing Seattle after getting rejected by estranged husband Alexis not the one the writers had in mind. Fans had long held out hope of some sort of Alex-Izzie closure, but now those hopes are dashed because ofABCAlex Karev (Justin Chambers)Hours, nay, minutes after the announcement that Chambers was leaving Greys came the news that his last episode had already aired in Season 16 and there wouldnt be any sort of send-off for the character. Alex at least saved Merediths medical license in his final appearance, but fansand Jolex shippers!deserved more.ABC/Screencap by Home of the NuttyLeah Murphy (Tessa Ferrer)Leah didnt do much during her tenure at Grey Sloan besides sleeping with Arizona and inspiring a non-fraternization rule at the hospital. And when Ferrer was let go during Season 10, Greys closed out Leahs storyline, with Richard (James Pickens Jr.) firing her from the hospital for being a better doctor than surgeon. But then the writers brought Leah back for a handful of Season 13 episodes, and for all we know, shes still there? Somewhere?ABC/Screencap by Home of the Nutty

The doctors are out. The abrupt departure of Justin Chambers from Greys Anatomy is just the latest in a long succession of cast member exits from the ABC drama, which has bid farewell to a dozen and a half series regulars in its 16-season run so far.

Some of these outgoing characters got carefully-crafted swan songs while others exits were just mentioned in passing on the show or just ignored entirely.

Flip through the slides above to see which of 15 former Greys stars went out with a bang and who went out with a whimper or less. (Warning: Spoilers for all seasons herein!)

Greys Anatomy, Season 16 Returns, Thursday, January 23, 9/8c, ABC

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15 'Grey's Anatomy' Exits Ranked From Most to Least Climactic (PHOTOS) - TVInsider