Dr. Christen Plescia grew up in Central Illinois and attended the University of Illinois for both undergraduate studies and veterinary school, earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2008. She decided to pursue a career as a veterinarian because she enjoyed working with animals and was very drawn to science, particularly biology, Prior to becoming a veterinarian, she gained experience in almost every aspect of veterinary practice by working through her high school and undergraduate years as a veterinary assistant and receptionist. Dr. Plescia enjoys both medicine and surgery, as well as the case variety she sees in her days at the clinic. Her primary goals at this point in her career are to continue to practice the most up-to-date medicine in a compassionate and fulfilling environment. Her particular areas of interest include urgent care/emergency care, soft tissue surgery, oncology, and internal medicine. She works with companion animals in a part time position in order to have time to continue to pursue her  conservation endeavors working with marine mammals. The Plescias have two cats (one tripod, named Benny, who Dr. Plescia rescued during an ER shift, and the other a rescue from the streets, named Drizzle) and a dog (an English Springer Spaniel named Rudy). They also have a small but busy farm with llamas, goats, and chickens. When not working, Dr. Plescia enjoys spending time with her husband (Dr. Pete Plescia — see below) and their two boys. You can most commonly find them hiking, beach-combing, or outside enjoying nature.