Meredith Grey is getting a new permanent twisted sister. For the upcoming 11th season of Grey’s Anatomy, the show has promoted Caterina Scorsone to a series regular.

Scorsone plays Amelia Shepherd, Derek’s younger sister who is also a neurosurgeon. She first appeared on Grey’s Anatomy in season 7 and spent four seasons on the spin-off, Private Practice. She returned for the final episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 10, moving in with Meredith and Derek and taking a temporary (now permanent) job at Grey Slaon Memorial Hospital.

The promotion seems to fill a hole left by the exit of Sandra Oh as Meredith’s best gal pal. Amelia and Meredith shared a lot of bonding time in the final episodes of Grey’s Anatomy season 10, and Amelia’s decision to stay in Seattle puts her right at the center of Meredith and Derek’s latest squabble about whether they’re moving to D.C.

At the end of season 10, not only did Oh leave the show, but Tessa Ferrer and Gaius Charles did as well.

Grey’s Anatomy returns with season 11 this fall on ABC at a new time, Thursdays at 8pm.

(Image courtesy of ABC)

John Kubicek

Senior Writer, BuddyTV

John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire DiariesSupernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.