Pulse cast and character guide: Who plays whom in Netflix's new medical drama

Netflix’s new medical drama, Pulse, has made waves in the streaming space with its gripping take on life inside Miami’s busiest Level 1 Trauma Center.

The hospital staff has to juggle life-and-death medical emergencies with personal and professional crises while a hurricane approaches. If you’re trying to figure out who’s who in this high-drama story, here’s a guide to the principal cast and the characters they play.

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Main Cast and Characters

Willa Fitzgerald - Dr. Danielle “Danny” Simms

Dr. Danny Simms is a third-year emergency medicine resident who is suddenly promoted to Chief Resident. Sharp and conscientious in her job, she comes under more scrutiny because of a complicated romantic entanglement.

As Danny grapples with her new position as a leader, she also has to fight to keep herself and her medical ethics intact amid challenging cases and hospital politics at the highest levels.

Colin Woodell - Dr. Xander Phillips

The talented and charming Chief Resident of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Xander Phillips, hails from one of Miami’s most influential medical families. He is confident, charismatic, and cool under pressure. But his privileged background often rubs him the wrong way with his colleagues, and that comes to a head as the hospital braces for an impending crisis.

Jack Bannon - Dr. Tom Cole

Dr. Tom Cole, a second-year surgical resident, has an impressive sense of humor and a bit of swagger to go along with it. A top-notch surgeon in the OR but beset by personal demons that could ruin his career. Another piece of Pulse revolves around Tom's relationships, both professional and personal, within the hospital.

Jessie T. Usher - Dr. Sam Elijah

Dr. Sam Elijah is a third-year emergency medicine resident; basically a saint. Sam is competitive at heart and is always aiming to perform better than the next person. But the idealism is soon challenged as he struggles to maintain it in an intense hospital working environment where not every patient can be saved.

Chelsea Muirhead - Dr. Sophie Chan

Dr. Sophie Chan is a quick-witted and fiercely ambitious surgical intern aiming to become one of the most prominent surgeons in the field. She is driven and capable, but she needs to find a way to survive the hierarchy and politics of the surgical world whilst also earning the respect of her superiors.

Daniela Nieves - Camila Perez

Camila Perez is a third-year medical student, is optimistic, and is eager to learn. She is still finding her footing in the hectic hospital environment, where each day introduces fresh hurdles. Following medical training, her journey in Pulse reveals the struggles and triumphs on the pathway.

Jessy Yates - Dr. Harper Simms

Dr. Harper Simms is a second-year emergency medicine resident and the younger sister of Danny Simms. Harper, unlike her sister, is more free-spirited and unorthodox in her practice of medicine. Their sibling dynamic is rich enough to help the show explore personal and professional relationships more deeply.

Justina Machado - Dr. Natalie Cruz

Dr. Natalie Cruz, the authoritative Chair of Surgery and of Emergency Medicine, oversees the surgical operations of this hospital. She is both a guiding force within the institution and a mentor to many. But trying to help the hospital without hurting her staff can put her in tough spots.

Jessica Rothe - Cass Himmelstein

Cass Himmelstein is a senior ER nurse who knows exactly what she wants out of life and has a plan to get it. Highly skilled and hyper independent, Cass is often the glue keeping the chaotic ER together. Pulse, her role highlights the vital contribution of nurses in the medical field.

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What to Expect from Pulse

Pulse is an exciting blend of medical drama, interpersonal conflict, and high-stakes decision-making. And thanks to its dynamic cast, the show feels authentic in tone, making it appealing to fans of the medical procedural genre of television, including Grey’s Anatomy and The Resident.

Expect strong medical cases, emotional depth, and complex relationships in all the ways that will keep viewers hooked from episode to episode as the characters fight their way through the challenges of the medical world.

Pulse is shaping up to be Netflix’s next massive hit in the medical drama space, with a star-studded cast and digestible plotlines. Whether you’ve been watching hospital shows for years or are in search of a new bingeable drama, Pulse will be your medicine, serving up the kind of adequately tear-stained excitement and deeply relatable human drama that only medical shows can offer.

Keep checking back on Netflix's official pages and trusted entertainment news sources for updates on Pulse.