Phillip Boyce

Doctor **Phillip Joseph Boyce** was a noted human Starfleet officer in the 23rd century. He served as chief medical officer of the USS *Enterprise* under Captain Christopher Pike. (TOS: "The Cage"; *Star Trek: Early Voyages*; *TOS* novel: *Vulcan's Glory*, *Child of Two Worlds*; *DSC* novel: *The Enterprise War*)

Boyce was born in New York City on Earth in the late 22nd century. At the age of 15, he decided to become a doctor, and spent much of his early career working as a pediatrician in Manhattan. He married a woman named Alicia, and the two bought a house in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but she passed away only a short time later. Boyce retained the house, and remained a bachelor, for the rest of his life. (*TOS* comic: *Who's Who in Star Trek*; *TOS* novel: *Vulcan's Glory*)

He eventually lost interest in pediatrics and decided to join the space service for a more challenging career. He completed his training so quickly that he was asked to stay on at Starfleet Medical Academy to teach, but turned down the offer, wanting to "get out there" on the frontier as soon as possible. (*TOS* comic: *Who's Who in Star Trek*)

Boyce was assigned to the *Enterprise* during the ship's first five-year mission in 2246, where he worked as assistant chief medical officer under Dr. Sarah Poole-April. When Captain April and Doctor April left the *Enterprise* in 2250, Boyce was made CMO and served more than a decade under Captain Pike. (*TOS* novel: *Where Sea Meets Sky*)

Over the years, Boyce and Pike became great friends, and he would serve as the captain's confidant and "unofficial bartender." The two would often share a drink and discuss their problems with each other. It was Boyce's support that helped Pike come to terms with the loss of Dermot Cusack and the events on Rigel VII in 2254. (TOS: "The Cage")

Boyce was fond of growing things, though due to his frequent long absences from Earth, he decided against maintaining a home garden. Aboard the *Enterprise*, however, he did keep a small "garden" in his quarters, small tubs of earth that contained arrangements of small stones, carefully cultured and clipped grasses, and graceful *bonsai* trees. He favored oak, birch and maple. (*TOS* novel: *Vulcan's Glory*)

In 2255, a birthday party was held for Boyce on board the *Enterprise*. During the course of the party, chemicals that the ship was carrying were accidentally spilled onto some minerals. The reaction created a gas which got into the ventilation system and disabled several crew members. Years later, when Merkaan raiders had captured a Federation colony, Spock used the phrase "Boyce's birthday" to tell a former *Enterprise* crew member working as the colony administrator to use similar methods to disable the Merkaan invasion force. (*TOS* novel: *Legacy*)

Dr. Boyce served aboard the *Enterprise* until 2264. He eventually retired to his home in Cape Cod, where he spent endless hours fishing and sailing, while teaching comparative anatomy and space medicine at the Medical Academy. (*TOS* novel: *Vulcan's Glory*; *TOS* comic: *Who's Who in Star Trek*)

## External links

* Phillip Boyce article at ***Memory Alpha***, the canon *Star Trek* wiki.
* Phillip Boyce article at ***Memory Beta***, the non-canon *Star Trek* wiki.
* Phillip Boyce article at ***Star Trek Expanded Universe***, the fanon and fanworks *Star Trek* wiki.