She made history as the sharp-tongued, fiercely ambitious Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy, and now Sandra Oh has earned a new title – doctor for real (well, sort of). The award-winning actress has been honoured with a doctorate from Dartmouth College, where she also delivered this year’s commencement address. It’s a full-circle moment filled with humour, humility and more than a few happy tears.
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A milestone moment for Sandra Oh
On stage in her graduation gown, Sandra Oh looked every bit the part. But while Cristina Yang earned her credentials in a fictional hospital, this doctorate is very real, albeit honorary, and the recognition couldn’t be more deserved. Sharing the moment on Instagram, Oh joked: “A Dr. for real reals!! (Okay, honorary)”, with photos of her speaking at the ceremony and dancing with the graduates.
This wasn’t just a proud personal moment – it was a deeply emotional one too. Sandra revealed in her speech that she never went to university, adding with a grin: “I only played characters who have. So, thank you for helping fulfil my parents’ dream of me actually getting a degree. And a doctorate at that!”
The crowd roared. Her parents’ dream had finally been realised, not through academic exams, but through a lifetime of performance, perseverance and passion.
‘Trust your discomfort’
Sandra Oh didn’t use her commencement speech to boast about her accolades or career highlights. Instead, she gave the Class of 2025 something far more meaningful – a reminder that growth often begins where comfort ends.
“If you can train yourself not to turn away, but to learn to be with your discomfort, and trust that it might be telling you something you don’t yet know,” she advised. It was a quiet moment of reflection amid a joyful celebration, and one that many graduates won’t soon forget.
With her usual mix of sharp wit and honest vulnerability, she also admitted her initial reluctance to accept the speaking invitation. “I thought, ‘Huh, that’s nice… what a privilege.’ And then I thought, absolutely not!” she laughed. But she said yes anyway – and turned her doubts into a powerful moment of connection.
Leaving Yang behind – but never forgotten
For many fans, Sandra Oh will always be Cristina Yang. Her time on Grey’s Anatomy (from 2005 to 2014) helped define the golden era of medical dramas, and her character’s intensity, loyalty and unapologetic drive made her a cultural icon. Her friendship with Meredith Grey – famously dubbed the “twisted sisterhood” – still resonates with viewers around the world.
Even now, more than a decade since her exit, Cristina remains part of the Grey’s universe through phone calls, off-screen mentions and fan speculation. Some still hope for her return. Kevin McKidd, who played Owen Hunt, has said it felt like the show never gave Cristina a proper goodbye. But Sandra has gently closed that chapter, telling People magazine: “I’ve put that gently aside.”
A career defined by range and impact
Since leaving Grey’s Anatomy, Sandra Oh has only soared higher. She earned critical acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations for her role as MI6 agent Eve Polastri in Killing Eve, and lent her voice to the Pixar hit Turning Red. In every role, she brings depth, strength and nuance – always compelling, never predictable.
Her honorary doctorate isn’t just a feel-good headline. It’s a reminder that Sandra Oh has always challenged expectations, whether by portraying complex women on screen or by standing proudly on a stage she never thought she’d reach.
She may not have walked the traditional path to academic recognition, but she has inspired millions just the same. And now, she’s officially “Dr Oh” – honorary, yes, but very much earned.
So here’s to Sandra: actor, advocate, icon, and now honorary graduate. Proof that life’s most powerful moments often come when we least expect them – and that it’s never too late to dance it out.
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Featured Image: Instagram | @iamsandraohinsta
