Summary
Nurse Alyssa Ogawa (Patti Yasutake) was one ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’s best recurring characters. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D,TNGfeatured numerous secondary and recurring characters beyond the main cast.While some, like John de Lancie’s Q, were larger than life and impossible to forget, others nicely rounded out the Enterprise crew. Introduced in an alternate future inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, episode 8, “Future Imperfect,” Patti Yasutake’s Nurse Ogawa appeared in 16 episodes ofTNGand two feature films.
As one of the head nurses in Sickbay assistingDr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Ogawa aided in some of the USS Enterprise-D’s most significant medical missions. While Alyssa may not have spent much time on dangerous away missions, Ogawa offered a glimpse into life as a lower-level crew member on the Enterprise. Ogawa’s friendships with Dr. Crusher and her fellow lower deckers made her one ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’s most relatable characters.Tragically, actress Patti Yasutake passed away from cancer at the age of 70 on July 30, 2025.Here are 5 reasons why Nurse Ogawa will always be remembered as one ofTNG’sbest recurring characters.
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5Nurse Ogawa Was A Competent & Skilled Medical Officer
Ogawa was intelligent and very good at her job.
After her introduction inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, Nurse Ogawa proved herself as one of Dr. Crusher’s most accomplished medical assistants.She helped Dr. Crusher stop the alien parasites that were causing a metamorphosis in Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge(LeVar Burton) inTNG’s"Identity Crisis." She also aided in the first Federation transfer of aTrill symbiont inTNG’s “The Host.”
Nurse Ogawa helped Dr. Crusher use the experimental genetronic replicator on Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) after he was paralyzed in “Ethics.“She also assisted in important autopsies and helped treat various Enterprise crew members,including Captain Picard. Even beyond the 16Star Trek: The Next Generationepisodes Ogawa appeared in, she was mentioned several times throughout the series, and Ogawa climbed quickly through the ranks.
When she was first introduced, Nurse Ogawa was an Ensign, but she became a Lieutenant byStar Trek: First Contact.
4Nurse Ogawa Was One Of Star Trek: TNG’s Most Relatable Characters
Ogawa’s presence on the Enterprise helped the ship feel more lived in.
Nurse Ogawa often spoke about her dating life with Dr. Crusher, offering a glimpse into the social lives of the Enterprise-D’s crew members. Ogawa dated a couple of her Enterprise crew mates before she began seeing Lt. Andrew Powell, whom she later married.InStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 7, episode 15, “Lower Decks,” Ogawa joined her friends for games of poker,as they discussed their hopes for promotions.
In “Lower Decks,“Dr. Crusher decides to recommend Ogawa for a promotion and shows the nurse an injured Cardassian in sickbay.Despite her friends' curiosity about the covert mission involving their friendEnsign Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill), Ogawa does not reveal any details. When Sito is killed in the line of duty, Ogawa mourns her loss and assures Lt. Sam Lavelle (Dan Gauthier) that Sito would be proud of his promotion.
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3Nurse Ogawa Was A Loyal Friend To Dr. Beverly Crusher
Ogawa stuck by Beverly when she needed a friend.
Not only was Nurse Ogawa close with several of her fellow ensigns and lieutenants, she was also a loyal friend to Dr. Beverly Crusher.Ogawa sometimes acted as a sounding board for Dr. Crusher, helping her navigate difficult decisions,and she proved herself to be a particularly loyal friend. InStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 6, episode 22, “Suspicions,” Dr. Crusher becomes convinced that the death of the Ferengi scientist Dr. Reyga (Peter Slutsker) was murder rather than suicide.
Dr. Crusher performs an autopsy on Reyga despite direct orders not to do so, forcing Captain Picard to remove her from duty.At the risk of her own career, Nurse Ogawa helps Crusher access the autopsy reportsand take another look at one of the bodies. Ogawa has clearly come to trust Beverly as both a doctor and a friend, and she helps her because, as she says,"[she] can see how important this is to [Crusher].”
2Nurse Ogawa & Her Baby Saved The USS Enterprise-D Crew
Ogawa proved instrumental in saving the crew in TNG’s “Genesis.”
While Nurse Ogawa undoubtedly helped save many lives aboard the USS Enterprise-D as a nurse,Alyssa unknowingly helped save the entire ship while she was pregnant.InStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 7, episode 19, “Genesis,” Captain Picard andLt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner)return to the Enterprise to find the crew members have de-evolved. Dr. Crusher and Nurse Ogawa had tried to stop the process, but had been unable to before they were affected themselves.
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After discovering the perfectly healthy kittens of his cat, Spot, Data determines that the antibodies in amniotic fluid could reverses the de-evolution process.The pregnant Ogawa has partially transformed into an ape, but she still proves instrumental in saving the Enterprise.Thanks to Ogawa and her unborn child, Data successfully creates a retrovirus and restores everyone to normal.
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1Nurse Ogawa Helped Pave The Way For Asian Women In Star Trek
Ogawa served as a positive role model for young women.
With its optimistic depiction of the future,Star Trekhas always celebrated representation on screen. LikeNichelle Nichols Lt. Uhurabefore her,Nurse Ogawa helped pave the way for women not only inStar Trek, but also in science fiction in general.As a skilled nurse and a great friend, Ogawa served as a positive representative for Asian women, but her story was not centered on her identity as an Asian.
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Compassionate and caring, Ogawa smiled often, and never hesitated to jump in when someone needed help.Despite only appearing as a relatively minor recurring character, she felt like a whole person with a story outside of what was shown.Throughout her journey onStar Trek: The Next Generation,Patti Yasutake imbued Nurse Alyssa Ogawa with humanity and heart, and she will always be remembered as an important member of theStar Trekfamily.
