Katherine Pulaski

Commander Katherine Pulaski is a fictional medical doctor in the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. She is the chief medical officer aboard the Federation starship USS Enterprise-D. Her medical skills saved the lives of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Commander William Riker, and she helped inspire Lt. Commander Data to create a hologram of Professor Moriarty that became self-aware. Pulaski preferred to avoid the transporter, but was forced to rely on it to save her own life from an alien infection. Before arriving on the Enterprise-D, she previously served on the USS Repulse. For a time, she was romantically involved with Kyle Riker, but they continued to remain friends.

Portrayed by American actress Diana Muldaur, Pulaski replaced the character of Commander Beverly Crusher for the second season after Gates McFadden's contract was not renewed. Pulaski first appeared in the second season opener "The Child", and made her final appearance in "Shades of Gray". Before playing the role of Pulaski on The Next Generation, Muldaur appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series, playing different characters in the episodes "Return to Tomorrow" and "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" She later worked with series creator Gene Roddenberry on a pilot for the series Planet Earth. McFadden returned to replace Muldaur in the third season, reprising her role as Dr. Crusher for the remainder of the series.