Emily Foster was a paramedic who replaces Gabriela Dawson. She is portrayed by Annie Ilonzeh.
Prior to joining Firehouse 51, Emily Foster was a surgical resident at Lakeshore Hospital. During her final year, she cheated on her board exam and was found out and kicked out. She fell back to paramedic work so she could continue to use her medical knowledge and treat patients.
Emily often thinks she knows best because she went to medical school and this causes friction between her and Brett on multiple occasions.
After a bus accident, Emily reviews the patient’s meds and realizes she was prescribed too many meds without a seizure med to prevent her from adverse reactions. She calls out Dr. Shaw via a nurse and tells her that this patient has a medical malfeasance case.
Later, Emily is reprimanded for calling out a doctor like that. She is reminded she is just a paramedic now and cannot second guess doctors like that. However, Emily doubles down and goes to see Dr. Jim Shaw herself. She confronts him in his office and later the Chief paramedic returns to Firehouse 51. Emily expects to be told off again but instead the Chief apologizes and says that Dr. Shaw changed the meds and congratulated her on catching that.
Dr. Shaw peruses a relationship with Emily. They go out to eat and have a one night stand. When Emily breaks it off with him, he starts to call her from a block number and harasses her. He even files a false complaint against Ambo 61, putting both Foster and Brett at risk.
Emily feels alone in facing the complaint but confronts Dr. Shaw nevertheless in public at Lakeshore Hospital. He follows her outside and reprimands her for treating him like that and starts to threaten her, only for all of the engines and vehicles of Firehouse 51 to show up at the hospital as well. Firehouse 51 stands in front of Dr. Shaw and Boden threatens Dr. Shaw, stating coming for one of them at Firehouse 51 is coming for all of them. Dr. Shaw stands down and is never seen or heard from again.
Emily is openly bisexual and has dated both men and women.
After Otis’s death, Emily moves in with Brett and Cruz. At first, Cruz and Emily have a small conflict over being roommates. Emily throws a party and tells Cruz about it. Cruz thought that meant he was invited (since it was at their home). When he shows up, Emily reminds him she told him about this, implying she meant to keep him away. They have an argument about this later, but patch things up.
Quick Answers
Who replaced Gabriela Dawson as a paramedic in Chicago Fire?
What is the backstory of Emily Foster's relationship with Jim Shaw?
Who portrays the character of Emily Foster in Chicago Fire?
Notes and Trivia[]
- Foster was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She says her mom was the "toughest bitch in Pittsburgh" (The Solution to Everything) and Sylvie Brett mentions her being "raised in steel country" in It Wasn't About Hockey.
- At the time of A Closer Eye, Foster has only been a paramedic for three months.
- She was late on her first day at Firehouse 51.
- Foster was a surgical resident at Lakeshore Hospital, but got kicked out when it was discovered she had cheated on her boards.
- Foster appears to be bisexual, having been shown going on dates with both men and women. She was first revealed to be interested in women in A Volatile Mixture.
- Her mom died from cancer during Foster's last year of residency. They weren't close, which makes the death worse, according to her. (The Solution to Everything)
Appearances[]
Chicago PD[]
- S6E2 Endings
- S6E15 Good Men
- S7E4 Infection, Part III
- S7E15 Burden of Truth
Chicago Med[]
- S5E4 Infection, Part II