After 12 seasons on Grey’s Anatomy, Jesse Williams is leaving the beloved ABC medical program.

“I will forever be grateful for the boundless opportunities provided me by Shonda [Rhimes], the network, studio, fellow castmates, our incredible crew, Krista [Vernoff], Ellen [Pompeo], and Debbie [Allen],” Williams said in a statement. “As an actor, director, and person, I have been obscenely lucky to learn so much from so many and I thank our beautiful fans, who breathe so much energy and appreciation into our shared worlds. The experience and endurance born of creating nearly 300 hours of leading global television is a gift I’ll carry always. I am immensely proud of our work, our impact, and to be moving forward with so many tools, opportunities, allies, and dear friends.”

The actor’s departure from the program was revealed on Thursday’s episode. On May 20, his farewell episode, dubbed “Tradition,” will air.

“Jesse Williams is an extraordinary artist and activist. Watching his evolution these past 11 years both on screen and off has been a true gift,” Grey’s Anatomy executive producer/showrunner Krista Vernoff told Deadline. “Jesse brings so much heart, such depth of care, and so much intelligence to his work. We will miss Jesse terribly and we will miss Jackson Avery — played to perfection for so many years.”

Williams debuted in Season 6 of the medical drama and quickly became a fan favorite. When several of Grey’s Anatomy’s actors left the show over the years, Jesse’s Jackson grew even more lovable to viewers. The character’s departure is written in such a manner that the viewer can envisage him enjoying his happily-ever-after with April, his ex-wife and Harriet’s mother.

Jackson’s conversations with his father Robert (Eric Roberts) and April are juxtaposed in the episode, in which he informs them of his decision to take over the family foundation and effect change, “creating real racial equity in medicine,” which he has not been able to do while working in the healthcare system. That means he’ll have to relocate to Boston, and he wants April, Matthew, and Harriet to accompany him so he can be there for his daughter.

“I’m not running from something, I’m trying to run to something, I’m trying to make something my own,” Jackson added. Jackson also dropped by to meet his mother, Dr. Catherine Fox (series EP Debbie Allen), to inform her of the news.

Jesse is the most recent Grey’s Anatomy star to quit the show. On the Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy crossover episode this season, Giacomo Giannotti’s character Andrew DeLuca, Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) lover, died after being stabbed by an attempted kidnapper – effectively leaving the program.

Dr. Alex Karev, Justin Chambers’ character, left the show in January. Justin announced his departure from the program after 16 seasons in order to “diversify my acting roles and career choices.”