Jamie-Lynn Sigler is set to join season 22 of ABC's medical drama Grey's Anatomy. 

The Sopranos star, 44, will have a guest-starring role as a doctor with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease she also battles in real life.

The actress will appear in the January 15 episode titled 'Heavy on Me', playing Dr. Laura Kaplan, a urologist living with MS.

Her character will be visiting Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital at 'the request of Catherine Fox (Debbie Allen) and offers Richard (James Pickens Jr.) a unique perspective on his case,' as per Deadline. 

The role was written specifically for Jamie-Lynn, who has been living with the condition for more than two decades, after being diagnosed at the age of 20. 

It marks her TV comeback following a three-year hiatus. 

It was reportedly important to the producers and Jamie-Lynn that the character not be 'defined by their affliction and has a full life and a career.' 

MS is an autoimmune condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, according to Cleveland Clinic. 

It can cause symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, vision problems, numbness, and difficulties with balance and coordination. 

Most people with MS have a normal or near-normal life expectancy. 

Christina Applegate — who cohosts the MeSsy podcast with Jamie-Lynn — is among the other famous Hollywood stars who have been open about living with MS. 

Hollywood is increasingly weaving actors' real-life health experiences into their roles.

Eric Dane recently portrayed a patient with ALS in NBC's Brilliant Minds.

Coincidentally, the actor gained fame as Grey's Anatomy's Dr. Mark Sloan. 

Meanwhile Michael J. Fox portrays a character with Parkinson's on Apple TV+’s Shrinking.

Sigler kept her diagnosis private for 15 years, largely out of concern for her Hollywood career.

She went public with her diagnosis in 2016, and in 2023 she told People, 'MS gave me my superpower, which is vulnerability.' 

At the time she shared that she has trouble walking for long periods of time and cannot run, but added, 'I can still accomplish the things that I want to do, whether it be at work or at home.'

The actress stressed that while living with the condition is not easy, it has shaped her into a 'cooler, way more soulful and grounded' version of herself. 

'I don't know if there would've been something else that would have led me to be the person that I am today, other than living with MS. I really don't.'

'And so while I want to be honest and not ignore the fact that it can be difficult, it's also really shaped who I am, and it's really shown me how strong I am.'

Season 22 of Grey's Anatomy began on October 9.

The show, created by Shonda Rhimes, premiered in 2005 and is currently in its 22nd season. 

It has aired over 450 episodes, becoming ABC's longest-running scripted series.

Sigler is best known for her starring role as Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos from 1999 to 2007.

She most recently played Tonya Walsh on ABC's crime drama Big Sky (2020–2023).