Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Coastal Veterinary Care
Taking Pride in Enhancing the Human-Animal Bond
Laura Black, DVM
Medical Director
Laura Black, DVM grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences with a minor in Biology at the University of Kentucky in 2010. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in 2014. Upon completion of her veterinarian education, Dr. Black began practicing as a local vet in North and South Carolina. Her interests include preventive care, internal medicine, and building relationships with clients through communication and education regarding their pets. Dr. Black has a pit-mix named Bella and an orange cat named Graham, and as a veterinarian, she truly understands your pets are family. In her free time, Dr. Black enjoys walking, reading, kayaking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Ashley Finan, DVM
Relief Veterinarian
Dr. Finan has been coming to the Myrtle Beach area since she was a child and first moved here in 2005 to attend Coastal Carolina University where she got her Bachelor’s degree. She went to St. George’s University for Veterinary school and did her clinical studies at the University of Georgia. Before moving back to the area to spend time with her favorite people (her grandparents) she worked as a medical director at an exotic/small animal hospital in Colorado for many years. She loves being a relief vet because she feels passionate about veterinary owners knowing their patients are being taken care of when they can’t be there themselves, and she strives to treat each pet like her own when she sees them. Her interests include exotic animals, internal medicine, and dermatology. When she’s not at work she enjoys seeing new places and has been known to book last-minute vacations as often as she can. While at home she loves walking the beach looking for shark teeth with her 2 dogs and her husband.
Jenna “MJ”
Receptionist
MJ moved to the North Myrtle Beach area in 2014 from Lehigh Acres, Florida. She started her veterinary medicine career in 2022, and has been living out her dream job ever since! She developed a love for animals through pet sitting which she did for years before coming into the veterinary clinic. MJ’s favorite part of working with animals is meeting new patients and their families. Outside of work, MJ likes to read, craft, play video games, watch hockey (Go Penguins!!!), and spend time with her husband and two-year-old son Sam!
Deborah
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Deborah relocated to SC from NY 4 ½ years ago. She and her wife moved here for the weather, the beach, and to be closer to family. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and worked with individuals with disabilities for 20 years. She loves working with animals, so she changed careers 12 years ago, went to school for Veterinary Technology and became licensed. She enjoys working with small animals and exotics. Deborah’s hobbies include photography (fins/feathers/and fur), landscape, reading, and exercising.
Ashley
Veterinary Technician
Ashley grew up in Northern New Jersey, and moved to Myrtle Beach from Southern Maryland in October 2022. Ashley has been a technician for 6 years. Her favorite part of being a technician is getting to be an advocate for all of the furry, feathered, and scaley patients she has cared for over the years. When Ashley’s not at work she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and watching football (J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!) Ashley shares her home with her well loved fury and scaley family members. She is a mom to 2 dogs, 3 cats, a hamster, a snake, and a bearded dragon named Goldfish!
Rachael
Veterinary Technician Assistant
Rachael grew up in Oxford, Ohio, and relocated to Myrtle Beach, SC five years ago to attend college. She received her Bachelors of Social Science in Sociology with a minor in Psychology at Coastal Carolina University in 2022. Animal caretaking runs in her family, Rachael grew up surrounded by the pet industry and veterinary care because of her mother’s work in grooming and veterinary medicine. In her free time, Rachael enjoys fishing, searching for shark teeth, watching football (GO STEELERS!!!) and taking walks on the beach with her pets and family. Rachael has a bluetick pointer mix (Freckles), an orange tripod tabby cat (Gibson), a lilac tabby cat (Leche), and a bearded dragon (Wall-e Wallis).
Kristy
Receptionist
Kristy is originally from Maryland and has been a veterinary technician since 2013. Kristy’s favorite part of being a technician is getting to help animals for a living. When she can, Kristy loves advocating/volunteering for local pitbull rescues #DONTBULLYMYBREED. In her free time, Kristy enjoys watching football (GO RAVENS!!!) and listening to music. Kristy shares her home with 2 dogs, 3 cats, a snake, a hamster, and a bearded dragon.
John
Veterinary Technician
Originally from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, John moved to South Carolina to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine. After spending several years as a Veterinary Technician, John returned to school and earned his license in Phlebotomy. He then spent a year working inpatient ER and CCU, drawing blood on humans for a local hospital during the height of the Covid- 19 Pandemic. John has since returned to his first love of helping animals in his work as a Veterinary Technician. If John isn’t busy caring for sick patients at work, he can be found spending time being the “cool uncle” (and godfather) to his two amazing nephews. John also cares for his Pitbull (Dutchie), his Siamese Cat (Paddy Cake), his two saltwater reef aquariums and his freshwater predator fish tank. Fly E-A-G-L-E-S Fly!
Helen
Practice Manager
Helen is a native of South Carolina. She received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminology with a minor in Social Science at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. She received her Master’s degree in Business Management and Leadership. She oversees all aspects of the clinic, and she applies all her education through the clinic to create a great learning environment for all the staff. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her two Yorkies, Yogi Bear and Princess Lala.