Dr. Gretchen Crist

From an early age, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. Growing up in a family with three siblings, I could tell there was something different about me. My brother and sisters were surprised that I wanted to spend hours on summer vacation nursing a tiny abandoned newborn kitten to health by feeding her milk several times a day through a medicine dropper.

In particular, I always wanted to be a pediatrician. I have always loved being around kids and find that there are few things quite as joyful as watching a child grow and discover the world. My true passions in high school were playing on the soccer team and being a nursery school summer camp counselor. I found myself searching for a future that would allow me to spend time interacting with kids and their families, be a part of a team and pursue my interest in science…Pediatrics was a natural choice.

I majored in Biology at Tufts University, where I continued to play soccer. Then I followed my career path to Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. I completed my pediatric residency at the University of Vermont and returned to live in Connecticut with my husband and two children.

I love being a pediatrician, because every day I have the opportunity to share in each family’s experience of their child’s physical and emotional development and have the privilege of helping when they are sick.