Rebecca Swender

Dr. Swender is a surgical oncologist, specifically, Izzie's oncologist.

Career
Regarded as the best surgical oncologist in the Washington state, according to Cristina, she was hired to assess and begin treatment on Izzie's cancer.

Dr. Swender has an authoritarian and impartial view of Izzie's cancer treatment; being a doctor that's had no prior relationship to Izzie, she takes charge of her treatment as soon as she arrives, and having all surgeons, including The Chief, Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Bailey report to her regarding Izzie's treatment. She will also be the doctor administering Izzie's chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as overseeing all surgeries on her, as shown when she begins to second guess Dr. Shepherd in his surgery on Izzie, unsettling and distracting Derek on his first surgery back, which was one of Izzie's surgeries. However, he does find his feet again and quickly silences Dr. Swender.

Following the success of her therapy and regime for her cancer, Dr. Swender leaves and hands over Izzie's case to an oncology resident at Seattle Grace.