Leyla Shinwari

**ED Resident Leyla Shinwari** is a trained doctor from Pakistan where started to practice.

Shortly after she moved to the United States, she shows up at New Amsterdam Medical Center with a patient in her role as a DriveTime driver. Returning to her vehicle, she discovers the patient's wallet. Upon bringing it back, she realizes the patient is in distress and helps to make an accurate diagnosis of her condition. It is revealed that she was an attending pediatrician in Pakistan but is unlicensed in the United States.

Seeing that she's living in her car, Lauren offers her use of New Amsterdam's showers and shelter at the hospital. She later moves in with Lauren. Finally able to study, she passes her U.S. medical boards and takes up a relationship with Lauren.

Leyla's visa begins to have issues and she is forced to ask for help from Lauren Bloom for immigration.

## Relationships

### Lauren Bloom

Leyla's romance with Lauren begins when Leyla buys a very large plant for their house. While Lauren claims she's "not good with living things," Leyla counters "I disagree" and takes her hand.

In Radical, Leyla kisses Lauren. Lauren, who is surprised, excuses herself, saying that she needs to get to work. Leyla decides to leave Lauren's house. Lauren comes back that night, and convinces her to stay, saying her reaction was due to her surprise since she's not used to normal or real. Lauren then kisses Leyla.

In Pressure Drop, Lauren is shown to be in an abnormally good mood. However, after Dr. Sharpe tells Lauren that her ED is a mess, and that she's gone soft which is putting patients at risks, Lauren decides to end her relationship with Leyla. When Lauren tells Leyla that she makes her soft, and soft puts her patient's lives at risk, Leyla laughs at Lauren, and tells Lauren that all they need is balance. They ultimately do not break up.

In Fight Time, Lauren tells Leyla that she's an addict, that she's been with women before and that she can't cook. Leyla says she knows this and everything. Lauren responds "I love you".

In Death Begins in Radiology, Leyla tells Lauren that the residency match list came out, and that Leyla got a spot in Spokane, Washington. After their conversation, Lauren immediately goes to confront the Residency Director, Hank, who oversaw the decision regarding which residents to make offers to. Lauren berates Hank, telling him that she deserves a spot at New Amsterdam. Hank tells Lauren that her application suggests that Dr. Shinwari does not. In particular, Hank tells Lauren that the medical school that Leyla attended, Khyber Medical University, has no international standing. Lauren reveals that Leyla practiced in refugee camps. Hank eventually tells Lauren that if she wants spot to open up for Leyla, the Dean of Medicine has been known to make allowances for the right price. Lauren leaves Hanks office, and has an outburst in a supply closet. Later, Leyla gets a call from the Residency Director at New Amsterdam, informing her that the Dean of Medicine opened a spot in the ED, and that they offered it to her. Leyla asks if Lauren had anything to do with this, and Lauren denies any involvement in the decision.

In More Joy, Lauren favours Leyla over the other ED residents and openly tells them about their relationship. Leyla objects to this. The next time Lauren and Leyla meet, Lauren yells at her for putting the O2 stat meter in the wrong place.

In We're In This Together, Lauren and Leyla show up in a taxi. The other residents make fun of Leyla and tell her to "be aware of her privilege." When she tells them she was living out of her car six months ago, the residents take the opportunity to complain about their own problems. Feeling terrible, Leyla tries to give up the extras Dr. Bloom has given her, but Bloom says that she should take advantage of the opportunity and do as best she can that way. Leyla feels she didn't earn her residency. They are called to help a patient and Leyla makes a correct diagnosis. Bloom gives the extras she gave Leyla to the other residents as well. She also tells Leyla to start paying rent.

In Same as it Ever Was, Lauren finds out that Leyla is letting Roxana, another resident, head the resident team. Lauren tells Leyla to toughen up. Leyla then treats a patient without using ultrasound guidance, against Lauren's order. Leyla explains that she trained in Kashmir in the Hizbul Mujahideen Uprising and thus learnt to do everything in the dark or during a mortar attack. Technology just slows her down. Lauren takes Leyla to a supply closet and Leyla tells her that the other residents were impressed and that they invited her out with them. Lauren tells her not to cross her again.

In This be the Verse, Dr. Bloom stops Dr. Shinwari from treating her mother, saying Mrs. Bloom is trying to get pills. Dr. Shinwari admits Mrs. Bloom to test her later, once the drugs are out of her system. Dr. Shinwari says she will figure out the source of the chronic pain, and finds an enlarged spleen. Dr. Bloom says it is because her mother is a long-time alcoholic. Mrs. Bloom tries to convince Dr. Shinwari to break up with Dr. Bloom, saying Lauren is a bad person. Dr. Shinwari persuades Dr. Bloom to look at the ultrasound and they conclude Mrs. Bloom has endometriosis. Lauren tests Leyla on her medical knowledge - when Leyla responds correctly, Lauren feeds her a spoonful of breakfast, saying she won't get a spoonful every time she responds because Americam medical care is not fair. Leyla tells her she is just grateful. When the hospital mentions her donation, Lauren tells them to keep it private and organises another, different donation to try to conceal it from Dr. Shinwari.

In In a Strange Land, when Dr Shinwari is offered a job by Reynolds, he tells her the doctors have to donate inordinate amounts of money to make a fifth residency spot open.

In Death is the Rule, Life is the Exception, Leyla asks Lauren how much she spent to create a new residency spot, and Lauren tells her $90,000. They are interrupted by Iggy. Leyla tells Lauren after work that she feels as if everything she has is earned by Lauren. When Lauren says she did it out of love, Leyla replies that Lauren tried to own her.

In Talkin' Bout a Revolution, Lauren calls Leyla and asks where she's living, fearing it might be somewhere unsafe. She witnesses a pedestrian get hit by lightning and attends to the emergency.

In The Crossover, Lauren tries to convince the residents to give her Leyla's new forwarding address because Leyla's transfer was unfinished. Zamaya hesitantly "hypothetically" gives Dr. Bloom the information in a note. Leyla is living at Linger Life Insurance Company, 17-07 Bollin Avenue in Queens, NY 11428.

In Family, Leyla asks Reynolds about Leyla, and he is quiet. When he next passes Lauren in the hallway, he tells her that Leyla asked him for a recommendation. Lauren waits for Leyla in Reynolds' office. When she arrives, Leyla is frustrated with the way Lauren stalked her. Lauren gives her a sincere apology, recognising that she tried to control Leyla with money and violated her trust and boundaries. Lauren says she'll regret what she did for the rest of her life, but that Leyla's residency spot is still open. Lauren is leaving.

In Unto the Breach, Leyla tells Lauren not to leave. She says they can work together and tells Lauren she is needed at New Amsterdam. Leyla refuses to make herself the reason Lauren leaves, saying she'll reapply for her residency somewhere else. While treating a patient, Lauren notices he has amphetamines in his bag. She pockets them, and changes treatment course accordingly. She gives the amphetamines to Sharpe, and tells her that she's triggered by everything in the ED. She wants to quit, but if she did then Leyla would too, and she can't have that. Lauren reveals that she wants to punish herself forever for what she did to Leyla.

In All Night Long, Lauren hides poorly behind a plant to avoid Leyla. When Leyla confronts her, Lauren tells her she's trying to give her space. Leyla tells Lauren that her visa has problems and she thinks she's being deported. Lauren gives her money for the lawyer. Leyla says that there was a glitch in the paperwork and she never got notices about her visa because she was living in her car. Her refugee status was being revoked, and she was at risk of being sent back to Pakistan. She tried to get a lawyer through the government and pro bono programs to no avail. Lauren gives her $ 10,000 for a retainer and $10,000 a month for a lawyer. She also lets Leyla use Lauren's address so that the case can be winnable. Leyla finds Casey's badge, then Casey. Lauren trails behind. Leyla searches for a suture while Lauren holds the wound together. Leyla finds a caulking gun and Lauren injects the caulk into Casey. Leyla calls 911. In the ambulance, Casey tells Lauren that he's very happy to see her with Leyla. Lauren explains that while she can easily give Leyla the money, Leyla will resent her for it because the relationship will be transactional. During Casey's surgery, Leyla apologises for asking for money. Lauren agrees to give it to Leyla because Leyla is awe-inspiring, being an immigrant who has faced many challenges. Lauren says she still loves Leyla romantically, but also as a person, and she wants to help Leyla succeed. Both cry.

In No Ifs, Ands, or Buts, Leyla gives Lauren a paper bag. Lauren assumes it's a bagged lunch, but Leyla tells her it's $ 1000 because she's paying back her loan. Lauren says she won't count it because she trusts Leyla. Leyla says she'll have more the next week, but she can't leave a paper trail - the repayments have to be in cash. Leyla asks Casey for advice regarding the stress with Leyla, saying she wants to alleviate the stress by destroying her sobriety. She laughs off Casey's suggesting of "meditation and exercise". Lauren lashes out at an alternative medicine practicioner, to whom she then explains some of the situation. The practicioner asks how she can help. Lauren continues to receive parcels of money from Leyla. Leyla tells Lauren she won't need to borrow more because her case isn't winnable - she doesn't have a stable address. Lauren tells Leyla to live at her house. Leyla is concerned that it would hurt Lauren's sobriety, but Lauren says she's changed. The two share an uneasy hug.

In Castles made of Sand, Lauren and Leyla bump into each other in the bathroom. Lauren grabs her toothbrush and leaves, forgetting toothpaste. She brushes her teeth with baking soda instead. While explaining safe sex to a group of prudish elderly people, Lauren makes a sex joke in reference to Dr. Shinwari to help loosen the tension. Leyla laughs in embarassment, and the two kiss when they get home.

In I'll Be Your Shelter, Lauren gets Leyla her favourite drink, a half-caf with two shakes of cinnamon and extra sauce. They kiss. Leyla and Lauren scheme to save a patient from sex trafficking. But when Leyla tries to officially get back together (implied: have sex), Lauren brings up the coffee from earlier. She says she noticed Leyla worrying if she has to pay her back. Lauren says Layla needs her apartment and money and immigration, but Layla doesn't need Lauren anymore. Lauren has all the power in the relationship; Leyla can't break up with her, or leave. Lauren moves "someplace safe".

In TBD, Lauren sleeps at Reynold's, who tells her to go back to her place. Lauren says she'd end up sleeping with Leyla. Lauren goes back to Leyla and asks if she can sleep in the spare room. Leyla accepts and sees that Leyla's new girlfriend is also living in the apartment.

In Big Day, Lauren references Leyla while counselling a man to tell his wife all that happened, because she says things don't get better unless you atone for them. She tells her sister that major work is being done on her apartment. When, later that night, she tries to tell her sister that she's sober, she wears the same jacket she wore when she told Leyla that she was an addict and when she goes to NA meetings.

## Appearances

* New Amsterdam (3 seasons; 19 episodes)
	+ Season 3: *Safe Enough; This is All I Need; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Catch; Disconnected; Radical; Pressure Drop; Fight Time; Death Begins in Radiology*
	+ Season 4: *More Joy; We're in This Together; Same as It Ever Was; Seed Money; This Be the Verse; Harmony; 'In a Strange Land; Death is the Rule. Life is the Exception; Family; Unto the Breach; All Night Long; Unfinished Business; No Ifs, Ands or Buts; Rise; Castles Made of Sand; I'll Be Your Shelter*
	+ Season 5: *TBD*