Dr. Klein has been practicing in small animal medicine and surgery for the past 10 years. He realized his dream of becoming a veterinarian while he was working to complete his degree in marine biology in Santa Cruz, CA. For three of his years in school he volunteered his time and love at an animal shelter. During this time he realized his complete love of animals and that his true passion lied in helping those who could not speak for themselves.

After this dream was realized the real work began. Dr. Klein attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Kitts. His clinical year was completed at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. His drive for further knowledge led him to apply for an additional internship and extend his years of study. Once accepted he was an intern with the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Ambulatory Department and Champaign County Small Animal Shelter.

During this past year Dr. Evan Klein has become an owner at Veterinary Care Center. From wellness preventive care visits to more advanced medicine and surgery, his main focus is treating your pet as part of the family. Dr. Klein is proud to be certified in a program called Fear Free, a program designed to make visits to the hospital as stress free as possible.

In his free time, Dr. Klein loves going mountain biking, hiking, and spending time with his wife and family.

Dr. Finkel, born and raised in St. Louis, received his veterinary degree from the University of Missouri.  He then did his post-doctoral training at the University of California and continued to practice there for eight years before returning to St. Louis to be with family.  He then went on to owning Village Animal Clinic, servicing Town and Country for decades, before merging with VCC.  Dr. Finkel's kids are all grown and has given him four lovely grandchildren.  In his spare time, he enjoys keeping topical fish aquariums, playing guitar and spending time with family.  His furry family includes an amazon parrot 'Sparky', who has a personality to match his name and a very spoiled pug named Phoebe. His whole career is founded on treating his patients like his own pets and caring for his clients like family.

Dr. Shivelbine (or Dr. Shiv, as he is known to be called) is a Missouri native, originally from Cape Girardeau, where he grew up in his family’s music store. Inspired by his father’s work ethic and his mother’s love of learning, he moved north to Kirksville where he attended Truman State University. He developed a real love of biology and animal science that eventually directed him to a career in veterinary medicine. He moved to St. Louis after graduating from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002, and has been practicing throughout the metro area since then. Dr. Shivelbine is interested in soft tissue surgery, dentistry, internal medicine, and exotic animal medicine. He is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Shivelbine truly enjoys working through animal health concerns, and wants to foster open & honest communication with our VCC families. Before you make a medical decision together, he wants you to understand not only what we need to do but why we are recommending it.

Dr. Shivelbine regularly plays violin (well), bass (pretty good), and accordion (poorly) with his wife Jenna and their friends in the acoustic band The Aught Naughts. They also love watching / mocking low budget scary movies and laughing a lot. Jenna has an amazing imagination – she makes toys, stuffed animals, children’s books and other creations in her home studio. Matt and Jenna both enjoy building Lego sculptures with their young boys Olin and Emrik. Olin studies karate and is hard at work on his path to black belt. Emrik loves music and is absolutely crazy for steam trains. The real boss of the house is their cat, Clever Dan – a grey tabby with a remarkably high IQ.

Hi! I am Dr. Laura Joback. I have been a part of the Veterinary Care Center team since 2001. I attended the University of Missouri-Columbia for undergraduate studies in biochemistry and then graduated from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 1994. Because I am a St. Louis native, I WILL tell you where I “went to high school”… Westminster Christian Academy, graduating in 1987.

Finding my niche in a private practice where I can exclusively focus on the highest quality of care has allowed me to feed my passion for this field. Many of my patients have been with me from their initial 6 week visit to the moment they enter their twilight years and require geriatric care. My utmost goal is to focus on the Wellness needs of our patients in addition to when they are sick or in need of vaccinations. Communication is vital with my clients and I thrive on that connection. That interface, between you as the owner and me as your pets’ medical caregiver, aids me in giving your pet the highest quality medical care possible.

When I’m not saving lives and stamping out disease and pestilence in the Greater Chesterfield-land area I am spending quality time with my husband, who I am VERY thankful to have alongside me. Together we have 2 sons. Our house is also occupied by an array of “non-human” residents. We currently have one dog, a Chocolate Goldendoodle named Malachi, two parakeets, named “Japheth” and “Zilpah” in addition to a variety of fish named after superheroes, StarWars characters or movie stars.

Dr. Skarzynski was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. She knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since about the age of 4, and with the help and undying support of her parents, she was able achieve to her childhood dream! Dr. Skarzynski graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in May of 2018, and shortly thereafter moved to the St. Louis area to pursue a position as a small animal emergency veterinarian. She has had the privilege to care for and treat patients from the St. Louis area as well as patients in other states she traveled providing locum emergency veterinary relief. Though still passionate about emergency care, Dr. Skarzynski is looking forward to more personal relationships and long-term care with patients and their families here at VCC.

Shortly after moving to the St. Louis area, Dr. Skarzynski met her husband-to-be, whom is native to the Wentzville area. Together they enjoy playing board games and cards, walking and hiking, playing PokemonGO, traveling to visit family as well as to explore new places, and participating in fun runs anywhere from cupcake run 5ks to Tough-Mudder races. They have 3 pets at home (for now), two friendly felines named Batman and Alfred, and a “foster fail” wire-haired terrier mix named Macy who joined the family about a year ago.

Dr. Julie Mayabb was born and raised in The Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, so she roots for the Cards and definitely bleeds Blue.  For as long as she can remember, Dr. Mayabb has always wanted to be a veterinarian.  As a kid, she was always surrounded by animals – dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, birds, fish and even a turtle – she loved them all.  After graduation from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999, she had practiced in the St. Louis area for over 22 years now.

Dr. Mayabb likes all aspects of being a veterinarian but especially values building doctor-client relationships so that your pets can receive the highest quality of care possible throughout their entire lives. Her interest also includes preventive medicine, dermatology, internal medicine, and behavior issues.

When she is not working, Dr. Mayabb loves to garden, read, and watch St. Louis Blues hockey games.  She also enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband Brent, Dog Eli, cat Tessa, and koi Betta fish Mr. Miyagi.

As our hospital administrator, I am honored to be a part of such an amazing team of doctors and staff as well as being able to assist them in providing the best care for our patients. As far back as I can remember I have always wanted to work with animals and that dream came true for me over 17 years ago when I first started in the veterinary field as a receptionist. Since then, I have worked in all faucets in the field, from working in the clinic, assisting in surgery and eventually into management. What I love most about working at VCC is getting to build long lasting relationships with clients and their pets, while working with such a dedicated and fun loving team.

When I’m not busy at work, I enjoy spending time with my loving husband and caring for our menagerie of pets, including various geckos, frogs and invertebrates, as well as our rambunctious cats, Amadeus and Olivia. We also like taking day trips to different antique and thrift shops, where we can find those special antiques to decorate our 1890 Victorian home. We also enjoy cooking together and hosting dinner parties for friends and family. Or simply spending a relaxing night in watching nature documentaries.

Hi! My name is Kristy, I am the lead technician here at VCC since 2017. I love working with animals and taking part in keeping them happy and healthy. The team I get to work with makes it even more enjoyable. My pets are my children, I have a black cat named Caselli and two Old English Bull Terriers named Scrappy and Benelli. I also love spending time with friends and family, making people laugh and a enjoying a tall wine on Friday nights.

Hi! I'm Jessi, I joined the VCC family in 2017. I graduated from Hickey College with an associates in Animal Science. I love working in this field because I can make a difference in the lives of animals and their owners. What I love most about VCC is all the wonderful people I work with and all the fun we have together. I share my home with an adorable Bull Terrier, Lola. I also have two wonderful daughters and a husband, who I love spending every moment I can with. We enjoy playing games, watching movies together and spending time outdoors.

Hello! I’m a technician here at VCC since 2018, I graduated with an associate’s degree in Applied Science and have been a technician in the field since 2012. The best thing about working at VCC is working with pets and their families. It makes me glad to be able to help animals live happy and healthy lives! At home I have a Schipperke named Bowser and two of the cutest cats ever, Ringo and George. In my free time I enjoy camping, crocheting and participating in fun runs!

Hi I'm Lesley, I joined the VCC team in 2020.  I have been a veterinary technician since 2007 and love every day!  In my spare I enjoy spending time with my miniature bull terrier Edna Louise and my cat Estelle.  

Hi! I'm Sherri, I've been with VCC since 2021.  I graduated from Hickey Vet Tech Institute in 2015 with a specialized associates degree in animal sciences.  I have a passion for animal nutrition and help educate owners on the benefits of proper nutrition for a long and healthy life.  Outside of work I enjoy reading and crafts! I also love spending time with my two boys and my two dogs. 

Hi I'm Betsy!  I'm one of the Registered Veterinary Technicians here at VCC, I graduated from the Midwest Institute with an associates in Veterinary Technology.  One of my passions is fear-free vet visits, where I can help anxious and nervous pets be more comfortable and relaxed during their visit at the vet.  In my spare time I enjoy being out doors and just love the cold weather. I share my home with my two dogs, Ares & Willie, two cats, Sashimi & Dani Rojas, and three chatty chickens. 

Coming Soon!

Hi! I'm Tessa, and I joined the team at VCC in October of 2022! I grew up with cats my whole childhood, so I've never been without a fuzzy family member in my life. I'm passionate about giving the best care possible to all animals and I love learning about the biodiversity of species that live beside us on Earth. I spend most of my time with my senior cat, Zoey. Outside of work, I love to have picnics, go birdwatching, knit, and cook!

Hi! My name is Leslie, I’ve been with VCC since 2016. I absolutely love my work family as well as being around animals all day. The things I enjoy doing the most in my spare time are, hanging out with my friends and family, relaxing at home and of course playing with Halo and Chance, my two boxers. I have had Halo since he was a little baby and Chance, who I got from a rescue because he is deaf.

Hi!  I'm Mikaela, and I joined the VCC team in September of 2020.  I've loved animals - especially dogs - since day one.  My household has always had at least one pet roaming around - any less was unacceptable. I have two pups I absolutely adore: my chow chow, Vixen, and my terrier mix, Polly. Polly and I actually met at VCC; she was a stray pup we were examining in need of a home, and I am a certified sucker.  I have not only gained a fluffy family member, I have earned an incredible team as a work family and gotten to engage with so many cheerful and loving pets.  In my free time, I enjoy reading, being outdoors, and being around family and friends.  In my opinion, one of the best things in life is to genuinely enjoy the work you engage in - even better when you're surrounded by people with the same passion and love for what they do. How could you not love your job when you get to visit with kittens and puppies every day? 

Hi I’m Sophia!  I’m a Customer Service Representive for VCC since 2021.  What I like most about being apart of the VCC team is being able to interact with all sorts of wonderful pets and their great owners.  I have three cats, Char, Oscar, and Leela, and a Bluetick Coonhound named Maisel.  When I’m not at work I enjoy spending time with my family.  I also like to sketch, and paint with acrylic and watercolor. 

Hi, I'm Tim! I've worked in the veterinary field for a few years, first in Denver, CO and now as part of the VCC team. I have a soft spot in my heart for cats, having grown up with them for most of my life. Outside of work, my personal passions include writing and recording music, hiking, and spicy foods.

Meet Theodore AKA Theo, our purr-fessional Chief Napping Officer (CNO) at VCC. Since 2020, Theo has mastered the art of catnaps and blissful lounging, earning them the prestigious title of CNO.

While Theo may not excel at answering phones, he takes his supervisory role seriously, ensuring everyone is on task during his patrols around the clinic. He makes it a point to check in on our patients, offering them his reassuring presence and purrs of comfort.