Grey’s Anatomy may not be leaving for quite some time according to ABC’s president. What does this mean for the network’s medical hit?

Grey’s Anatomy fans received some exciting words of encouragement from ABC’s president Paul Lee. Taking the Television Critics Association summer press tour stage shortly after The Muppets stars Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, Lee spoke about killing Derek Shepherd, the future of the series, and changes coming to season 12.

Even viewers who tuned out of Grey’s Anatomy way back in season 4 had a hard time turning away from the news of Derek Shepherd’s death. The handsome neurosurgeon who causes nearly everyone in his path to swoon departed the show suddenly near the end of season 11. “It was great, wasn’t it?” Lee said of the decision. While you may not agree, Derek’s death reignited the show.

Related: Top 10 lessons Derek Shepherd taught us on Grey’s Anatomy

“It was great to see Grey’s Anatomy so relevant,” Lee commented about the fan reaction post-Derek. The show drew back audiences who may have left, lost interest, or have been “meaning to catch up.” Eleven seasons in and the central storyline of the series is now officially done. So where does that leave us?

“We’ve seen the pitch for next season and the show reinvents itself again. [Shonda Rhimes] really is a remarkable showrunner,” Lee said about season 12. We can only hope that the reinvention will not involve anymore musical episodes.

Regardless of how many Cristina Yangs, Izzie Stevens, and Mc-Doctors we lost over the years, the heart of Grey’s Anatomy has always rested with Meredith Grey. Season 11 may have explored the year following Derek’s death, but we would not expect him to be completely forgotten as the series continues moving forward. We watched as Meredith explored who she would be in a world without Derek; now in season 12 we will watch her learn to accept that as her new reality.

ICYMI: What we expect to see in Grey’s Anatomy season 12

Beyond Meredith’s storyline, Alex and Jo are getting ready to move into their own place, Bailey is gearing up to become Chief, and Stephanie Edwards now has a few interns of her own to keep in line. Perhaps the “reinvention” may lend itself to a better balance between professional and personal drama. There are new doctors, old faces, and a few people (looking at you, April) who are choosing to move away.

As for life beyond season 12, Lee had this to say, “We have no reason to expect that Grey’s Anatomy will not go on for many, many years to come.” We hope Ellen Pompeo doesn’t have any plans for the next few years!

Grey’s Anatomy season 12, episode 1, “Sledgehammer,” returns to ABC Thursday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET.