Zoe Hart always dreamed of being like her dad and becoming a cardio-thoracic surgeon. She has just graduated from medical school at the top of her class, but ends up working for a man she barely knows, Dr. Harley Wilkes, in his small medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama. When she arrives to the state, she finds out that Dr. Wilkes has passed away, but left half of his practice in her name; the other half was left in Dr. Brick Breeland's name. Zoe meets many new faces in Bluebell, and makes many friends, along with enemies.