A student’s passion to return home and serve the veterinary needs of the community and those surrounding it.
Growing up on a small ranch in McMahan, Texas, Crystal Randolph would agree that living in a rural community has its challenges but has prepared her so much for her life's journey. In fact, riding horses and being surrounded by animals is what fueled her drive to become a mixed animal veterinarian to help serve the veterinary needs of rural Texas.
“Besides growing up around animals my entire life, I worked at several horse boarding facilities and also shadowed a local equine veterinarian,” Randolph said. “This really helped me get involved with working with animals and really sparked that passion to further pursue veterinary medicine.”
Randolph has been working in the veterinary field for 13 years now. In that time she learned helping people and their animals is what she enjoys most out of life.
“Once I graduated high school, I moved into working as a veterinary technician for a mixed animal practice while completing my bachelor's and master's degree at Texas State University,” Randolph said. “Being a technician, I got to work with owners and their animals, which allowed me to see that veterinary medicine isn't just about animals, it's about the people too.”
While at Texas State University, she also had a passion for research that impacts the agricultural industry. She proudly completed research in sustainable agriculture and focused on how to make animal nutrition more efficient using a One Health approach.
Now Randolph is finishing up her third year at Texas Tech University's School of Veterinary Medicine. Her clinical year journey is about to begin where she'll work with the school's clinical partners in rural and regional communities across Texas and New Mexico.
Her rural background, passion for people, care for animals and curiosity in research will make her a great veterinarian in rural communities. Let's get to know Crystal Randolph through a series of questions.
What are you passionate about in veterinary medicine?
I am passionate about veterinary medicine because I believe the ability to help animals allows us to also expand our ability to communicate with and influence people. Many people nowadays consider pets part of their family and I have the opportunity to contribute to their life positively and educate them on how to give their pets the longest, happiest life possible.
What are some life experiences that led you to that passion?
I spent a large amount of time working with newly graduated veterinarians and helping them on emergencies their first year out of school. I loved the opportunity to help build on their academic education with real world experience and the opportunity to see them build meaningful relationships with their clients.
Many of these clients followed me in my adventure to become a veterinarian and are excited to have me back in their life when I graduate. I am so grateful to start out with a client base who knows me as a person and appreciates the work I have done to come full circle in my career.
What inspires you to pursue what you love to do every day?
The ability to share things that I have learned with my younger counterparts is a major reason I get up every day. I love mentoring students not only in my classes but also in the younger generation who are interested in beginning their journey in veterinary medicine.
Additionally, to be able to come home and know that I can offer people the same level of care I would want for my own pets is something else that inspires me to work hard every day.
How do you plan to go back and help your community?
I plan to work at a mixed animal practice in the rural area that I grew up around. I hope to offer some services that have not been available in recent times as there has been a lack of veterinary presence and the need for someone to be on call and offer emergency services.
I am extremely interested in pursuing equine medicine and offering my knowledge and skills in that area to my future clients who have been driving hours to have those services available to them.
What are you excited most about clinical year?
I think I am most excited about is finally being able to put the things I have learned to use. Previously, I felt very confident about my skills and now I want to be able to combine those skills with the knowledge I have gained over the last three years.
One of the rotations I am most looking forward to is working at the Four Sixes Ranch in Guthrie, Texas. They have a heavy influence in equine reproduction and also carry a reputation for being well-rounded in many species.
Why did you choose Texas Tech? 
I chose Texas Tech's School of Veterinary Medicine because of its core values. Kindness and community are two of the main principles that I hope to bring back to my practice in the future and spread in veterinary medicine.
Veterinary medicine can be a very difficult career path to follow, and I believe that if more people embodied these values in their day-to-day life, we could make a huge difference in the lives of our employees, clients, families and all those around us.
What was your reaction when you got the call that you were accepted to Texas Tech University's School of Veterinary Medicine?
After many years of hard work and my dedication to being accepted into veterinary school, it was as if something had finally clicked into place that my life was missing. I have never been more excited to leave my old life behind and begin this new chapter.
I will never forget when I received a phone call from John Dascanio, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs, that I was accepted into the inaugural class while I was at work. As soon as I hung up the phone, I immediately shared this exciting news with all my coworkers and doctors who had supported me in my educational journey.
How are you involved with the school?
I was the first student representative to be hired in the school for our outside collaborators. This was such a humbling experience to help show outsiders our school's mission.
Additionally, I have been very active in helping and teaching other students who are struggling in academics. In my first year of school, I was a peer tutor to my classmates and then in the following years I continued as a tutor to the underclassmen for anatomy and physiology.
In my third year, I developed a supplemental instructional program to help incoming freshmen develop their study skills and understand the massive amount of material being provided for anatomy and physiology.
What are your favorite things to do outside of school?
When I have time, I thoroughly enjoy riding my horse and traveling to rodeos. I am also an avid swimmer, hiker and love being outdoors. If I can find the time, I enjoy reading books in my spare time as well.