The OSF HealthCare Mission of serving with the greatest care and love aligns with Christine's own philosophy as a provider.
"My team at OSF HealthCare Medical Group – College Avenue embraces the Values of compassion, justice and integrity and we do our best, collectively, to serve our patients," she said.
Christine grew up in inner city Detroit in a tough, poor neighborhood. It was there she learned there are good, kind people in every environment. "I learned about community and helping my neighbors," she said. "In Bloomington-Normal, I find great joy in being part of the community and giving back."
Her first job was at a retirement community at the age of 15, and it was then she realized her passion for caring for others.
"I went into medicine with the goal of keeping people out of the hospital as much as possible and helping them understand the best health care strategies before they become sick," she said.
Before her nursing career, however, Christine worked as a newspaper reporter and magazine writer in Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. "I love hearing other's stories," she said. "This has served me well in my nursing career."
Christine found internal medicine a natural fit because "I want to help people understand their chronic conditions and make good decisions that improve their overall health," she said. "I look forward to interacting with patients every day and enjoy working with them to develop a health care plan for the future.
"My goal as a provider is to help my patients be the healthiest person they can be. There is no judgment," she said. "My patients and I are a team working toward the same goals. Patients can look forward to me listening to their concerns and helping them develop goals they can reach."
Christine is married to Steve and they have two daughters, Carol and Penny. When not working, she loves to travel with her family, enjoys culinary adventures and stays as active as possible. She also stays busy with her daughters' sports and hobbies. Christine also enjoys swimming and running and has ran in some half marathons but finds 5K and 10K races the most enjoyable.
If you're a patient of Christine Gardner, you can use OSF MyChart to schedule your appointment. If you don't have an OSF MyChart account, we can help you set up an account.
