Our Team
TLC Veterinary Hospital Veterinary Team
Meet our fantastic doctors and team at TLC Veterinary Hospital. We take great pride in giving your pets the best care possible!
Our Doctors
Houstoun Clinch
Dr. Houstoun Clinch established TLC Veterinary Hospital in 2005. He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. When he is not in the hospital, he is with Andrea, their children and grandchildren. Dr. Clinch is on Ski Patrol and enjoys spending free time in the winter in the snow. In the warmer months, he and Andrea are avid boaters on Lake Superior and Dr. Clinch can often be found biking as well. They are owned by Kit, the cat, and Vinnie, the dog. If they are not at home, then you’ll find them outside enjoying life!
Ericka Funfsinn
Co-Owner/Veterinarian
Dr. Ericka Funfsinn grew up in northern Illinois and currently lives in Lake Elmo with her husband, three kids, dog, four cats, four chickens, an Eclectus parrot, and fish. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 2008, she moved to Boston and began her veterinary career as an anesthesia technician at a large referral hospital. It was there that she discovered her passion for the profession. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota in 2016. She spent her first year practicing emergency medicine in the South Metro area and then joined a general practice for the following five years. She is excited to now be part of the TLC family and serve her community!
Dr. Funfsinn enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine and the variety that each day brings. She especially loves being able to help create long-lasting relationships with pets and their owners. Her other interests include feline medicine, emergency medicine, end-of-life/geriatric care, and surgery.
Sonja Helgeson
Dr. Sonja Helgeson graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from St. Olaf College in 2015 and went on to complete her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota in 2020 as an honor society member. She first discovered her passion for veterinary medicine during a summer job at a local wildlife rehabilitation clinic. She loves having a fulfilling career where she can help pets live long, healthy, and happy lives with their humans. Her professional interests include dentistry, feline medicine, and nutrition. Dr. Helgeson’s practice philosophy is to listen well, and provide multiple options and education so owners are empowered to find a plan that works best for them and their pet.
Outside of work, you can find Dr. Helgeson spending time with her husband and their Bichon, Axel, and tuxedo cat, Lucy. She enjoys bird watching, hiking, downhill and Nordic skiing, and spending time with friends and family. She also plays in a handbell choir with her husband, and they enjoy local theater and music.
Natalie Oestreich
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Oestreich is a Minnesota native. She attended the University of Wisconsin –River Falls and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2018. She then attended the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with her doctorate in 2022. Her dad remembers her at 2 years old, begging him to donate money to the dying polar bears after seeing a commercial on TV. It was then he realized she was going to be a compassionate caretaker of animals, and that’s exactly who she became.
Dr. Natalie and her fiance have a beautiful cat named Cindy Lou and two dogs, Maggie and Sherman, who enjoy hiking and exploring with them. Her favorite part about veterinary medicine is creating a life-long bond with every patient and client. Her goal is to manage your pet’s wellness while making sure that you also maintain your solid human-animal bond.
Megan Leverentz
Veterinarian
Our Staff
Shauna
Shauna has been a veterinary technician for over 15 years and joined the TLC family in 2016. She became hospital manager in 2022. She loves working with animals and their humans. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their two young boys, and their bichon- Ruby. They enjoy watching the boys ice skate and play hockey, t-ball, and soccer. They also enjoy spending time with family and friends in the summer, especially swimming and boating at the cabin.
Andrea
Certified Veterinary Technician/Ultrasound
Morgan
Morgan started in the veterinary profession in 2018. She graduated with a degree in Veterinary Technology and became a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2020. She has three dogs- Guinness, Fireball, and Kona, and eight ferrets. She enjoys going to the dog park, fishing, reading, and playing video games.
Angie
Angie began her career in veterinary medicine in 1999. She and Erin attended veterinary technology school from 1998 to 2001. Shortly after graduating, Angie obtained her Certification in Veterinary Technology. Her favorite part about veterinary medicine is giving a voice to those who don’t have one. She is a Minnesota native and currently resides in Blaine with her husband, boy/girl twins, three cats and a beagle.
She loves going to concerts, taking her kiddos to Fawn Doe Rosa, and spending time lounging in their pool with her husband.
Katy
Erin
Veterinary Technician
Erin and Angie have known each other since 1992. They grew up across the street from each other in Oakdale. They went on to attend veterinary technology school together from 1998 to 2001. Erin started working in the veterinary field in 2000 and joined TLC in 2022. She is married to Tim and they have 3 kids named Ash, Mason and Riley. They also have a dog named Gisele and a cat named Madison. Erin is a proud foster for mnpocketpetrescue.org. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, camping and spending time with family.
Stephanie
Megan
Mia
Mia has loved animals since she was little and has always known she wanted to make a career out of this love. She has two cats (Tibbs and Goober). She enjoys being in nature and adventuring outdoors. Her interests include art, music, animals, and being with her family.
Alexa
Paula
Paula is involved in a local dog rescue and had been coming to TLC to receive care for the pets she was helping. She then joined the team in May of 2018. Helping animals and their families in any way is her passion. Outside of work, she continues to foster dogs with her husband and son’s help. They also have three rescue bulldogs and 1 uromastyx lizard. She loves to travel, watch scary shows and talk about dogs all day long!
Emilee
Tashina
Tashina has ten years of customer service experience. She moved to St. Paul from South Dakota in 2018 and joined TLC for an opportunity to combine her customer service skills with her passion for animals. She and her partner Anton live in St. Paul with their two dogs (Hudson and Riley) and their cats (BMO and Neptr). They enjoy hiking, house plants, and spending quality time with their family and friends.
Becca
Becca graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in communications. She loves animals and is very happy to be able to utilize her degree and skill set in a veterinary setting. She has two wonderful rescue cats. In her free time, she likes to watch movies and spend time with friends.
