Pulaski in season 3 - Generations

[Replica Picard]

Was it ever definitely said that Pulaski left the ship for good? We know that Crusher returned to the -D and retook her position as CMO. But we also know she wasn't the only doctor on the ship: Dr. Selar was onboard as well. Maybe Pulaski was the Delta shift doctor or similar after Crusher returned, and was just never in the on camera action?

 

[Angry Fanboy]

I think it's pretty evident Pulaski was reassigned when Crusher returned.

I can't imagine a doctor of Pulaski's experience and seniority would be found in any shipboard role other than chief medical officer - certainly not one subordinate to Crusher running some graveyard shift.

 

[Replica Picard]

I think it's pretty evident Pulaski was reassigned when Crusher returned.

I can't imagine a doctor of Pulaski's experience and seniority would be found in any shipboard role other than chief medical officer - certainly not one subordinate to Crusher running some graveyard shift.

Well, maybe. But Pulaski seemed like she might like the night shift, and serving on the flagship is a cherry posting, CMO or not.

But I'm not necessarily saying she did. Just that I'm not sure there's anything in canon that says she didn't.

 

[Nyotarules]

Its always night on a starship....

 

[Orphalesion]

In Who Watches the Watchers Picard suggests to Beverley that they should use the Memory Wipe Technique that Dr. Pulaski developed during season 2 on the Mintakans.
Beverley just replies that she's familiar with Pulaski's technique, but unsure whether it will work on the Mintakans. There's no reference on bringing her in to consult on the issue. To me it seems that if Pulaski had still been on the Enterprise they'd most likely would have rung her up to join them in Sickbay to discuss and administer the technique.
So to me that all but says that Pulaski has left the Enterprise.
Compare that with Dr. Selar who is referred to in dialogue as late as Season 7's Genesis when Dr. Crusher wants to consult her and another doctor (once again no mention of Pulaski) on the virus that starts to affect and mutate the crew.

Of course we could say that because "technically" we never hear about her leaving, she could be hiding behind a corner, despite never being seen, heard of or referred to again, but imho that's kinda an inelegant solution.

Besides we all know that she walked into an empty turbolift shaft (j/k)

 

[Replica Picard]

To me it seems that if Pulaski had still been on the Enterprise they'd most likely would have rung her up to join them in Sickbay to discuss and administer the technique.

Pulaski was teaching at the Academy, but just that season. And the 7th.

 

[Orphalesion]

Pulaski was teaching at the Academy, but just that season. And the 7th.

Nah, she was on vacation to Risa in those two episodes

Actually when I was a child and the local tv station showed re-runs of TNG (two episodes each day) I got confused and thought that the blond Doctor with whom Beverley butts heads with in Ethics was Pulaski.
I also thought that Commander Shelby from Best of Both Worlds was Tasha Yar, or rather that Tasha Yar was Shelby when she still served on the Enterprise (I had seen one episode with Tasha, could not remember her name and had no idea that she had died, I thought she had just left the ship)

 

[Mojochi]

In Who Watches the Watchers Picard suggests to Beverley that they should use the Memory Wipe Technique that Dr. Pulaski developed during season 2 on the Mintakans.
Beverley just replies that she's familiar with Pulaski's technique, but unsure whether it will work on the Mintakans. There's no reference on bringing her in to consult on the issue. To me it seems that if Pulaski had still been on the Enterprise they'd most likely would have rung her up to join them in Sickbay to discuss and administer the technique.
So to me that all but says that Pulaski has left the Enterprise.

That's what I was thinking. Talking about a procedure that Kate did as if we now have to do it without her, means she's not around anymore

 

[Angry Fanboy]

Just that I'm not sure there's anything in canon that says she didn't.

Well I suppose there isn't.

But then there's nothing in canon to say Pulaski didn't decide medicine wasn't for her anymore after Season 2, retrained as a barber and spent the remainder of TNG working alternate shifts with Mr Mot...

 

[Sakonna]

Does anyone know if any of the tie-in novels, comics, etc ever did the story of Crusher returning and Pulaski leaving?

If the comics ever do another Waypoint anthology, that would be perfect for that format. They're all 8 page stories from less trafficked corners/eras of Star Trek lore, you could do something fun with the Pulaski/Crusher hand-off interactions on either end of Pulaski's stint.

 

[Timo]

In Who Watches the Watchers Picard suggests to Beverley that they should use the Memory Wipe Technique that Dr. Pulaski developed during season 2 on the Mintakans.

Which is the true reason Pulaski left. That, and she rather liked the black leather uniforms.

Besides we all know that she walked into an empty turbolift shaft (j/k)

Which is the cover story the Section created.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[MrPointy]

Pulaski got transferred to cetacean ops.

 

[Dukhat]

Well, maybe. But Pulaski seemed like she might like the night shift, and serving on the flagship is a cherry posting, CMO or not.

But I'm not necessarily saying she did. Just that I'm not sure there's anything in canon that says she didn't.

So all the huge interactions she had with the crew just completely disappeared when she was given a different shift?

I would think that a CMO of her expertise would have just been transferred somewhere else.

 

[Timo]

Pulaski was famed for her research: might be she was essentially slumming in a starship CMO posting to begin with. She was pretty good at it, solving all the practical problems she faced in the adventures, but this doesn't necessarily make it her calling.

But no, I can't see her sitting silently in a far corner of the E-D, either, even if that allowed her to do her research. That's just not her, from what we saw during S2.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Visitor1982]

Dr. Pulaski, what happened to ya?

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Actually when I was a child and the local tv station showed re-runs of TNG (two episodes each day) I got confused and thought that the blond Doctor with whom Beverley butts heads with in Ethics was Pulaski.

With some minor script tweaks, I think that would have been so much better. Great thinking, child-you!

 

[Orphalesion]

With some minor script tweaks, I think that would have been so much better. Great thinking, child-you!

Now that I think about it, I agree. Pulaski hearing of her good friend Worf's injury and arriving on the Enterprise suggesting an experimental treatment she has just developed and butting heads with Beverleyover the issue would have made an interesting episode.
Would have been really nice to see Pulaski and Crusher play off one another.
However child me just confused one middle aged doctor lady with short blond hair for another :-p

 

[HGN2001]

Maybe she ran off to be with Kyle Riker.

 

[Sakonna]

Damn, that really would have been fantastic if "Ethics" was Pulaski vs. Beverly! All the setup is even there in season 2 to make it especially resonant.

I assume the behind-the-scenes weirdness made it so that a Pulaski return was never once legitimately entertained by anyone after season 2 wrapped, but still, would have been neat.

 

[Replica Picard]

I assume the behind-the-scenes weirdness made it so that a Pulaski return was never once legitimately entertained by anyone after season 2 wrapped, but still, would have been neat.

Has Diana Muldaur ever done a Trek or sci-fi convention? It hardly means she hasn't, but I don't think I've ever seen her on a guest list.