Caterina Scorsone promoted to series regular on 'Grey's Anatomy'

LOS ANGELES, June 23 (UPI) -- Caterina Scorsone has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming season of Shonda Rhime's drama Grey's Anatomy.

E! News reports that the 32-year-old actress, who played Derek Shepherd's (Patrick Dempsy) sister Amelia Shepherd on the show's spinoff Private Practice, will have a lead role in the ABC drama during its upcoming 11th season.

Scorsone previously appeared on Grey's during a story arc in the series 10th season. Her addition to the show's main cast comes months after it was reported that series regulars Sandra Oh, Tessa Ferrer and Gaius Charles were leaving the series.

In the mean time, original cast members Ellen Pompeo and Dempsey have both signed two-year contracts to stay on the medical drama.