Just how present Robert Picardo's Doctor has been in Star Trek's newest show has varied so far, and understandably so. Starfleet Academy's 32nd-century setting is surprisingly good at balancing the old with the new, with the Doctor falling into the former category by a long way. So, while there have been references to the Doctor's time aboard the USS Voyager in the 24th century, they've been few and far between. Episode 5, "Series Acclimation Mil," features one of those brief, but emotionally-loaded, Star Trek: Voyager acknowledgements.
As a huge Voyager fan, I'm still waiting on Starfleet Academy to release its inevitable Doctor-centric episode. After all, there is still the unanswered question of what became of his backup from 1998's "Living Witness." Still, on the off-chance the show never puts Picardo's character in the spotlight, I suppose I'll have to be content with the Doctor moments Starfleet Academy is giving me. Although the Voyager nod in "Series Acclimation Mil" isn't particularly important to the episode at large, it is vital to understanding the Doctor's life after his first crew reached Earth in the 24th century.
FULL SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1, Episode 5, "Series Acclimation Mil."
The Doctor's cold account of dealing with grief is heartbreaking
Picardo's holographic character has been in existence for around 900 years by the time of Starfleet Academy. While I expected to see a little more of him in an episode led by a fellow photonic (Kerrice Brooks' SAM), the one scene they did share was deceptively poignant on numerous fronts. When SAM speaks with the Doctor about how Cirroc Lofton's Jake Sisko dealt with the loss of his father in the 24th century, the Doctor turns almost militant in his insistence that grieving is essentially a waste of time.
"How could he bear to lose him like that?" SAM asks, to which the Doctor replies, "The same way we all learn to live with loss. Get over it, move on." When SAM doubts people's ability to follow the Doctor's advice, his conversation-ending rebuttal comes in the form of: "You can, and you do." I will admit that Picardo's delivery of the final line made me tear up. It's strikingly obvious that he's fooling himself, burying the ever-present sadness brought about by the loss of his Voyager family almost a millennium ago.
Although the Doctor "only" spent seven years aboard Voyager, that ship and its crew helped him gain the self-awareness that ultimately allowed him to break free from his programming and become a fully-fledged individual. Furthermore, Star Trek: Prodigy proves that he maintained those relationships for years after the Voyager finale, and likely until their eventual deaths. If that wasn't enough, then the Doctor's digital memories don't degrade as organic ones do. He'll remember the loss of each member of the Voyager crew as clearly as if they happened yesterday. It's no wonder he tries to act like he's okay all the time.
"Series Acclimation Mil" quietly solves the Doctor's loneliness woes
The lifespan of most organic beings is a drop in the ocean of the Doctor's functional immortality. So, even though he's been forced to move on from the loss of Kate Mulgrew's Captain Janeway and her crew, there will have been countless other friends and loved ones in the Doctor's life since then. Most of those likely only lived for a handful of decades, perhaps some over a century. Sadly, almost none of them will have been able to keep up with the Doctor's talent for longevity.
However, two characters introduced for Starfleet Academy provide the Doctor with the lengthy companionship he requires. The first is Holly Hunter's Captain Ake, whose half-Lanthanite lineage means she's currently over 400 years old. She's a baby in comparison to the Doctor, but her long life allows her to remain by the Doctor's side as his friend and colleague for far longer than most other Star Trek characters. They certainly seem to have a close relationship, which warms my heart.
The other long-living Starfleet Academy presence, like the Doctor, was also around in the 24th century...in a way. Tawny Newsome is revealed to be playing Illa Dax at the end of Episode 5. For those not well-versed in Deep Space Nine lore, Illa is the latest in a long line of Trill hosts, with Dax being the symbiont implanted within. The memories in Dax are the culmination of all the previous hosts, who also have their own distinct personalities. So, even though Dax and the Doctor didn't have an established relationship during the franchise's classic era, it stands to reason that they have connected as the centuries have ticked by.
Because Illa and the Doctor also both teach at Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century, it would make even more sense if they'd bonded over their long lives and shared experiences while working together. There's no end in sight for the lives of any of these three characters, and the Doctor also seems willing to continue reaching out to characters with significantly shorter lifespans. So, hopefully, he won't be alone for his foreseeable Star Trek future.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 is streaming now on Disney+. Catch the finale on March 12, 2026.