This is the first appearance of Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Denny Duquette) since "Some Kind of Miracle." In "Some Kind of Miracle," Denny also appeared as a ghost, this time to Meredith. During this episode, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has several speaking scene, all of which are "Are you sure you're okay?"

This is the final appearance of Brooke Smith (Erica Hahn). Prior to the airing of this episode, a press release was put out that Brooke Smith had been fired from the series.

Ratings: 15.74 million viewers

Cristina: The wife's here, of the beating victim. She ID'd her husband, so I --
Owen: What's his name? I was wondering if you found out his name so that he would become a person to you. They're all people, you know. This is not a game or a competition, who gets surgeries and who doesn't. They're people and we get to save them. Now you're good. You're excellent and you can win all the contests. But if that's why you're doing this then you shouldn't be. Did you find out his name?
Cristina: My dad died when I was nine. In a car accident, I was with him in the car. While we waited for the ambulance, I tried to keep his chest closed, so he wouldn't bleed so much. When he died, my hands felt his heart stop beating. That's why I do this. It's also why I win all the contests. The patient's name is Tom.
(Cristina leaves)
Owen: Single malt scotch.

Erica: I went to the Chief about Izzie Stevens and he completely shut me down. Well, we'll see what he says when I report this to UNOS.
Callie: Wait, what? Why? What good would come of that?
Erica: What do you mean?
Callie: What possible good would that do? Would it affect your patient's outcome?
Erica: My patient wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her!
Callie: So you're going to report this to UNOS and cost this hospital its transplant certification? Cost its patients organs? Cost people their jobs? Cost Izzie Stevens her career.
Erica: Wait, so you're taking Izzie Stevens' side in this? Over mine?
Callie: She's a doctor. She's one of our doctors. There's a reason we have each other's backs, Erica.
Erica: Please, don't talk to me about a code. Because this is not that.
Callie: No, this is that. Look, I don't know what happened between Denny Duquette and Izzie Stevens that night, but unless you were in the middle of that situation, I don't see how you can make a judgment.
Erica: Easy. There's right, and there's wrong. And this, was wrong. And illegal. There is no gray area here. You can't kind of think this is okay. You can't kind of side with Izzie Stevens. And you can't be kind of a lesbian.
Callie: Yes, I can.

Episode Title: Rise Up

"Rise Up" is the title of a song by Yves La Rock.