Helen Sharpe

**Dr Helen Sharpe** was the Chair of Hematology and Medical Oncology, and later the Deputy Medical Director at New Amsterdam Medical Center.
Prior to Max Goodwin's leadership at New Amsterdam, she has little time in the office, instead, she traveled promoting the hospital on television and news broadcasts. However, when Max takes over, she returns to her position as a doctor, eventually becoming Max's doctor when he finds out he has cancer. The two have a very close relationship, but their feelings are complicated. She is dismissed from her duties as Deputy Medical Director and Co-Head of Oncology in *The Island*, after taking a patient to a safe-injection site but gets her job back in *Perspectives* after Castro quits.

## Biography

### History

Dr. Sharpe attended the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, where she acquired her degree. She further completed her foundation program and specialty registrar at Kings College London, and further residences at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and New Amsterdam Medical Center. Sometime later, she became board certified in adult and pediatric hematology.

### Throughout *New Amsterdam* Series

#### **Season 1**

Prior to Max Goodwin's leadership of New Amsterdam Medical Center, Sharpe did not participate in many surgeries, nor was she actively participating in the medical field. Rather, she worked on publicising and attracting inward investment to New Amsterdam by appearing on news broadcasts or other televised events. When Max took over, he realized that whilst Sharpe was an investment-asset, she was also a brilliant doctor. He urged her to return back to work, and shortly after she did so.

Returning to work was difficult for Sharpe, however for one of her first cases back, she took on Max's cancer; providing him with a detailed treatment plan and urging him to attend chemotherapy — although he rarely did in this regard.

The relationship between Sharpe and Max becomes increasingly difficult and complex in *Sanctuary*. When a power outage in New Amsterdam threatens the lives of all of the patients, Sharpe believes that Max is being naïve — an effect of his cancer — to think that they can trust an ex-convict to power back up the hospital. Sharpe pushes for triage and selection of patients they can truly save, however Max disagrees. Max is eventually correct, and they are able to save all of the patients when the power returns.

Sharpe truly began to realise the effects of Max's cancer in *Preventable*, when he begins unfairly chastising Dr. Reynolds for losing one of his patients. Sharpe passes Max to Dr. Virginia Stauton, who becomes his doctor. When Max begins taking double-chemotherapy, Sharpe further realises his condition, especially when he collapses and is unable to walk. She orders that he take time off to truly get better, leaving her to run the hospital. He eventually agrees and goes home to rest with his wife.

#### **Season 2**

Sharpe enjoys a secure career as Co-Head of Oncology and Hematology as well as Deputy Medical Director at New Amsterdam. However in *What the Heart Wants*, Sharpe is arrested for taking one of her patients to a safe-injection site. Despite being bailed-out by Dr. Castro, Karen Brantley and the Board of Directors at New Amsterdam Medical Center  she is stripped of her titles as Deputy Medical Director and Co-Head of Oncology and Hematology as punishment.

Helen gets promoted back to Head of Oncology and Hematology as well as Deputy Medical Director, since she found out about Dr. Valentina Castro's trials having altered results. In an effort to have Sharpe not report her, she tenders her resignation to Max. She says that her results were compromised, due to her role as head of Oncology and Hematology. The next day Helen was promoted to Head of Oncology and Hematology, as well as her position of Deputy Medical Director.

## Relationships

### Romantic

#### Mohammed

Little is known about Helen and Muhammad's relationship except for the fact that they were together for about 10 years and were to be married before his unfortunate death as a result of a brain aneurism.

#### Akash Panthaki

Sharpe meets Akash in *As Long As It Takes* as he has a role in Maxs cancer treatment. After meeting he then goes on to ask her to go on a date with him in *Six or Seven Minutes* but *t*ells her to bring her wallet because he does not believe the man should always have to pay. Helen later begins a relationship with Dr. Akash Panthaki. The relationship becomes quite serious, and the two talk about children in the future. Sharpe becomes increasingly confused when she finds out that Akash has two children from a previous relationship in *The Forsaken*, and questions why Akash did not tell her. Nonetheless, the two carry on their relationship and eventually, Sharpe freezes her eggs for possibly fertilisation in the future. In *This Is Not The End*, Helen's relationship with Dr. Panthaki ends because of Max being her priority.

#### Cassian Shin

In the Season 2 finale, *A Matter of Seconds,* Sharpe begins a relationship with Dr. Cassian Shin. She later ends the relationship so she can focus on taking care of her niece who she has recently become a mother figure for.

#### Max Goodwin

Sharpe becomes increasingly aware that she is approaching menopause, and begins searching for a potential suitor to engage in a relationship with and eventually have children. At the same time, her relationship with Max is questioned, as they both seem drawn to one another — a fact that is announced by a psychic in *King of Swords*. The two know that their current bond got in the way of Max's treatment so Sharpe decides to stop being his doctor.

### **Familial**

#### Serwa Sharpe

Serwa Sharpe is Helens mother. She is a difficult character that appears to constantly criticise and degrade Helen. She disapproves of Max and Helen's family, discrediting her as Luna's mother and belittling her for not having biological children. Helen often tries to improve the relationship. She moves back to London and tries to connect with her mother through activities like dance, however Serwa puts up a barrier and prevents any real development in their relationship. They have a difficult relationship throughout the series.

#### Mina

Mina is Helen's half niece through her deceased half brother, she takes Mina in to provide her with a motherly figure. This is later questioned by Helen's own mother - Serwa - as she wonders why Helen is a motherly figure to all but won't have her own children

## Appearances

* New Amsterdam (4 seasons, 76 episodes)
	+ Season 1: *Pilot; Rituals; Every Last Minute; Boundaries; Cavitation; Anthropocene; The Domino Effect; Three Dots; As Long As It Takes; Six or Seven Minutes; A Seat at the Table; Anima Sola; The Blues; The Forsaken; Croaklahoma; King of Swords; Sanctuary; Five Miles West; Happy Place; Preventable; This is Not the End; Luna*
	+ Season 2: *Your Turn; The Big Picture; Replacement; The Denominator; The Karman Line; Righteous Right Hand; Good Soldiers; What the Heart Wants; The Island; Code Silver; Hiding Behind My Smile; 14 Years, 2 Months, 8 Days; In The Graveyard; Sabbath; Double Blind; Perspectives; Liftoff; A Matter of Seconds*
	+ Season 3: *The New Normal; Essential Workers; Safe Enough; This is All I Need; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Why Not Yesterday; The Legend of Howie Cournemeyer; Catch; Disconnected; Radical; Pressure Drop; Things Fall Apart; 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; Laughter and Hope and a Sock in the Eye; Harmony; Paid in Full; In a Strange Land; Death is the Rule. Life is the Exception; Talkin' Bout a Revolution; The Crossover; Family; Unto the Breach; Two Doors; All Night Long; Unfinished Business; No Ifs, Ands or Buts; Truth Be Told; Rise; Castles Made of Sand; I'll Be Your Shelter*

## Education

* As stated in S1 E3,
	+ Foundation Doctor and Specialty Registrar at Kings College Hospital, London.
	+ She did Additional Residencies and Fellowships at Columbia-Presbyterian.
	+ She is Board Certified in Adult and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
	+ She went to Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine.

## Trivia

* She was originally called ‘Hana’ but her name was changed to ‘Helen’ because there was a real doctor with the name Hana Sharpe.
* Dr. Sharpe is known for being practical, realistic, and polite.
* She was raised as an only child. In season 3 episode 4 we find out she had a younger half brother who died that day.
* Her dad was not a part of her life.
* She uses prayer beads to pray.
* Growing up, she lived by the philosophy "follow the butterflies." In season 4 episode 6 she has hung off bridges by doing this.
* She longs to be a mother.

## Quotes

"*Everything that I have I done, I have done for you"*

'*I can't be your friend and your doctor and your deputy, so I have to choose. I-I have to triage us."*

"*I like your hat."*

"*Swallow your pride. Keep your head down and do the one damn thing Max asked of you."*