Sandra Oh has played a lot of memorable roles in her career, but her latest title might just be the most surprising: honorary doctor. The “Grey’s Anatomy” star was awarded the distinction by Dartmouth College, where she also delivered a heartfelt commencement speech.
The Emmy-nominated actress, best known for playing Dr. Cristina Yang on the iconic ABC series, received an honorary doctorate from Dartmouth College, and she couldn’t be prouder.
On a joyful June morning, Dartmouth sent 2,178 graduates into the world—each one stepping into their next chapter with a well-earned degree and a whole lot of pride.
Sandra Oh Celebrates Receiving Honorary Degree With Commencement Speech
On June 16, Oh shared a joyful Instagram post from the big day.
Wearing a graduation gown and glasses, she stood at the podium to deliver the 2025 commencement speech. The post also featured fun snaps of her jumping on stage, posing with graduates, and enjoying behind-the-scenes moments.
“A Dr. for Real Reals!” — With a Little Help From Grey’s Anatomy Boss
In her caption, Oh joked: “A Dr. for real reals!! (Okay, honorary),” and gave a heartfelt shoutout to Grey’s creator and friend Shonda Rhimes for her “creative sisterhood.”
Sandra kicked off her speech with warmth and humor: “It’s an honor to be here with you on this momentous occasion. Congratulations. You did it!”
Shonda Rhimes Was the One Who Encouraged Her to Say Yes
Oh told graduates that it was Shonda Rhimes, a Dartmouth alum, who first encouraged her to give the speech.
“When she presented the offer… I thought, ‘Huh—Well, that’s nice. What a privilege…’ And then I thought — ABSOLUTELY NOT,” Oh said with a laugh.
Still, she persevered and delivered a heartfelt message about how growth often stems from embracing vulnerability.
“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 the grads.
Sandra Oh Doesn’t Rewatch Grey’s Anatomy — But Fans Haven’t Let Cristina Yang Go
Oh played Cristina Yang for 10 seasons on the hit ABC medical drama, but admitted in a recent interview that she doesn’t revisit her time on the show.
“I gotta tell you, I’ve put that gently aside,” she told PEOPLE during the Gold Gala in May.
Despite her departure, Yang’s character still gets referenced on Grey’s Anatomy through calls and letters. Her co-star Kevin McKidd, who plays Owen Hunt, even said in March that he’d love to see her return. “We didn’t really get a proper goodbye,” he said of Cristina and Owen’s storyline.