Doctors are important characters in Star Trek. After a disaster that strands the starship Voyager on the other side of the galaxy and kills all of the medical personnel, the ship is forced to rely solely on the Emergency Medical Hologram, a sentient piece of holographic technology. The EMH is programmed with all known medical knowledge making him a formidable medic. He is initially patronizing, superior, vain, pompous and arrogant. However, he becomes cognizant of his lack of compassion, becoming more humble and humane. Indeed, it can be argued that the Doctor evolved into a post-hologram state, with true consciousness and a desire to improve himself. Thus, over the seven course of the series, the Doctor acquires Bildung with the series serving as a Bildungsroman for a holographic being who is initially unevenly enculturated, grasping some points of expected social behavior or cultural understandings suitable to a given framework while completely missing others. Along the way, the Doctor also gains personal development, a multitude of abilities, and the respect of his colleagues. An additional bonus is the hardware and software never need to rest, with 24/7 availability - the patients' ideal! The EMH is truly a unique doctor.