And how long ago did Korby go missing?
KIRK: It's been five years since his last message. (c. 2266).
So if SNW is set eight years earlier, Chapel has three years to leave Starfleet, engage to marry Kirby, lose him, and then “[give] up a career in bio-research to sign aboard a starship.” Easy peasy.
A blind character who has seen some shit.

) she was BACK as simply the CMO of the 1701-D again in TNG S3.

