Crystal Redinger is a certified veterinary technician at Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois.
When did you begin working at the College of Veterinary Medicine?
I began working for the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. In 2017, I ended up
leaving to pursue a different opportunity and then came back in the Spring of 2022.
Describe your role at the college.
I work at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic (MDVC), and we are based in Chicago. I am a certified veterinary technician, or veterinary nurse. We are a full-service general practice, so I help provide nursing care to our patients as well as support our veterinarians.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I would say that a big part of my job is to provide education and support to pet owners. The most rewarding aspect is creating a bond with our furry patients and their families. I also enjoy teaching the veterinary students. MDVC is a teaching hospital, so we have rotations of first-year through fourth-year veterinary students. Helping to teach and mold the new generation of veterinarians is a unique aspect of this job that I would not be able to experience elsewhere.
Complete this sentence: My most memorable day at work was…
… when I got my dog Hei Hei. He came into the Medical District Veterinary Clinic in 2015. The owner could not afford his treatments and hospitalization. He presented as a six-week-old hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) puppy, and he was really sick. The owner just wanted what was best for him, so she relinquished ownership. It took some time, but after a couple of weeks of hospitalization, he was a happy, healthy puppy. Now, he continues living a healthy life and loves camping and hiking.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I have rediscovered my love for reading and have been trying to dedicate more time to myself. I also love going on hikes and find it to be very calming for my mind and soul.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
I am currently working on something from my bucket list. I have a scratch-off poster of all the national parks in the U.S., and it is pretty neat because I get to scratch it off as I visit them. We got this poster last year, and I have visited four parks so far!
Do you have a favorite restaurant or place in the Champaign/Urbana area?
I would have to say Portillos. I order the same thing every single time: the Italian beef with cheese fries.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
I’m embarrassed to admit this, but it would have to be my phone.
Do you have any pets?
I have three pets: two dogs and one cat. Iggy is my 12-year-old Chihuahua rescue, and he enjoys barking at people and napping 20 hours a day. Hei Hei is my eight-year-old morkie rescue and my sweet boy who loves affection and food. Finally, there is Bootsie, my nine-year-old domestic medium hair cat. For some reason, she reminds me of a wizard.
