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 three kids, dog, four cats, eight chickens, two ducks, an Eclectus parrot, and guinea pigs. 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 Finke
Associate Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Finke 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.
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
Andrea has 37 years of experience as a veterinary technician, Andrea brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. She spent 15 years working in private practice before furthering her education at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. There, she became a veterinary ultrasound technician and instructor in the Medical Imaging department, where she dedicated 22 years to teaching and advancing the field. Andrea joined TLC in November 2023, and we’re so glad to have her on board!
In her personal life, Andrea married Dr. Clinch in October 2024, and together they have two adult children, Dayton and Abby. Their family also includes four beloved pets, Vinnie, Monty, Banjo, and Cosmo. Outside of work, Andrea enjoys traveling, hiking, sailing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Angie
Certified Veterinary Technician
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 and three cats.
She loves going to concerts, taking her kiddos to Fawn Doe Rosa, and spending time lounging in their pool with her husband.
Katy
Katy is one of our veterinary technicians. She brings her passion for animals to work every day.
Outside of the clinic, Katy has a wide range of interests. She enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors hiking, and kayaking. When not out on the trails or in the water, you’ll likely find her cheering on her favorite baseball team or enjoying a live concert.
As a true cat lover, Katy has a special place in their heart for felines owning four of her own, but she also shares her home with two sweet dogs.
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
Stephanie is one of our veterinary technicians. She began working in the field at a general practice but found a passion for shelter medicine shortly after. After working there for a couple years, she made her way back to general practice here at TLC.
When she’s not at work, you can find her hiking, experimenting with new recipes, and cherishing time with family and friends. She is also a proud pet parent to two cats, Luna and Ember, and two horses, Aris and Chica.
Megan
Megan began working in the veterinary field in 2017 starting at the Humane Society and shifted her work to general practice in 2024 here at TLC. Megan’s favorite part of working in general practice is the lasting connections she is able to form with people and their animals.
Megan is a proud pet parent to Penelope, a sweet pup, Malibu Barbie, an adorable kitty with very few teeth, and a turtle named Melvin. She enjoys snuggling with them after a busy day at work and is always finding new ways to show them love.
Outside of work, Megan loves spending quality time with her husband, Henry, and working on new crochet projects!
Mia
Mia is one of our veterinary assistants. With 10 years of experience working with animals, she truly loves what she does! She’s passionate about helping creatures of all types, from cats and dogs to hedgehogs and even bearded dragons.
In her personal life, Mia has 4 cats and has previously cared for a variety of other pets. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, crafting, and anything Halloween-related. She’s also a music lover, both attending concerts and creating music herself. Mia is always ready to chat about her love for tattoos too – a true creative spirit at heart!
Alexa
Alexa is a full-time student, working hard to apply to veterinary school! In addition to her studies, she’s a busy mom to two young kids, four cats (Meatball, Pearl, Rock, and Bambi) a black lab named Skye, and a handful of backyard chickens.
Alexa also fosters neonatal kittens and cats through a local rescue – her passion for animals runs deep!
When she’s not working, studying, or caring for her furry friends, Alexa enjoys spending time outdoors with her kids and pets, gardening, running, crafting, reading, going to concerts, and exploring all that the Twin Cities has to offer with her family and friends.
Paula
Paula started coming to TLC while being involved with a local dog rescue to receive care for foster pets. She then joined the team in 2018 as a customer service representative. When Paula isn’t in the clinic, you’ll find her working with special education students, fostering dogs of all kinds, or off on an adventure with her family!
Paula is a proud pet parent to 4 dogs and 2 lizards, so she’s no stranger to caring for a variety of animals. Whether she’s helping to find a forever home for a foster pup or planning a fun family trip, Paula’s heart is always full of love for both people and pets.
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 lives with her two dogs (Hudson and Riley) and two cats (BMO and Neptr). She enjoys hiking with her boys, taking care of her house plants, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Laurel
Veterinary Technician
Laurel is a born-and-raised Minnesotan, and grew up just west of Minneapolis. She has loved animals all her life, a passion that inspired her to begin school couple years ago. She is studying to become a certified veterinary technician, which takes up most of her time these days. When she is not studying or working, she enjoys long walks with her dog Monty, cooking (and eating), and playing the guitar.
Cortney
Certified Veterinary Technician
Cortney is one of our certified veterinary technicians and began working in the field after graduating from DCTC in 2021 with an Associate of Applied Science degree. In the clinic, Cortney is passionate about caring for our patients, helping them heal, and supporting our surgical team. We’re so lucky to have her on our team!
At home, Cortney’s heart (and house!) is full—she shares it with six adorable pets: three dogs, two chinchillas, and a bunny! Cortney recently married her husband, a skilled mechanic who owns a racecar. One of their favorite pastimes is heading to Brainerd International Raceway, where he puts his car to the test on the track.
Samii
Certified Veterinary Technician
Samii began working in the veterinary field in 2011 and earned her AAS degree in Veterinary Technology in 2012. Shortly after, she became a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) and has worked in both general practice and emergency medicine. She particularly enjoys running anesthesia and working with hospitalized patients, ensuring they feel as comfortable as possible while away from home.
Outside of work, Samii spends time with her husband, Nick, and their two sons, Silas and Liam, enjoying the outdoors, going to the cabin, traveling, relaxing at home, and following true crime stories. Samii is also the proud pet parent of a little spit fire chihuahua mix, Arlo.
Sami
Sami is a veterinary technician with experience in general practice and urgent care. She loves building connections with both pets and their people. She is passionate about providing gentle, compassionate care.
When she is not in the clinic, you’ll usually find her spending time with her Australian Shepherd, Shasta, and her polydactyl cat, Toothless – her two favorite at-home coworkers!
Audrey
Bio coming soon!