Why 'The Pitt' star Supriya Ganesh, Dr. Samira Mohan, is leaving

"The Pitt" star Supriya Ganesh, who portrays Dr. Samira Mohan on the hit ER series, will exit after Season 2, USA TODAY can confirm.

Variety was the first to break the news of the surprise departure, which producers of the HBO Max series have framed as a natural part of the revolving door at the fictional Pittsburgh teaching hospital — and as the logical next step for Mohan. The doctor has spent much of Season 2 contemplating leaving the emotionally taxing profession.

Ayesha Harris, who has appeared as night shift resident Dr. Parker Ellis, has been promoted to a series regular for Season 3.

"Dr. ELLIS got student loans to pay off, we gotta work a double shift!" Harris wrote on Instagram. "Been wanting to share this for a while now."

Harris added a note to "my girl," the departing Ganesh: "Thank you for being a real one, from day one!"

Both characters have high-profile roles in "The Pitt" April 2 Episode 13 (9 ET/6 PT) as the award-winning series moves towards the April 16 finale. The finale chronicles the 15th hour of an exhausting and emotional July 4 work shift, where many characters are contemplating their future at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center.

Dr. Heather Collins, played by Tracy Ifeachor, left "The Pitt" at the end of traumatic Season 1.

The fan-favorite Ganesh, who grew up in India, first appeared on "Blue Bloods" in 2018 while studying at Columbia University. Ganesh, now 28, graduated from Columbia with a degree in neuroscience and a minor in gender studies, before being cast in "The Pitt." 

The actress told Harper's Bazaar she had been planning to attend real-life med school. "I was tutoring through filming Season 1 because I was like, ‘What if they hate me? They could hate me! What if I got written off?'" she said. "My agents only found that out recently at a dinner, and they were like, 'What?' But I don’t know! I wanted to be sure that I wasn’t going to get fired first."

As "The Pitt" took off, students started signing up for tutoring just to see her. “It got very strange,” Ganesh said.

How is Dr. Mohan on 'The Pitt'?

Dr. Mohan is a caring member of the team who might care too much. In Season 2, Episode 7, Mohan treats an uninsured construction worker who developed diabetic ketoacidosis after rationing insulin due to high costs. Mohan advocates for his care and attempts to covertly give the patient free supplies.

In Episode 10 ("4:00 P.M."), Mohan experiences a panic attack, driven by the overwhelming ER pressure, and personal stress regarding her mother.

Sometimes-abrasive Chief Attending Physician Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) could be tough on Mohan. In Episode 12, Robby suggested Mohan's skill set and work rate were both better suited for geriatrics.