Meet Our Team

DVM

Dr. Helper

• Founder of Northview Animal Hospital 1989
• Graduate of Southern Illinois University B.A. Biology 1979
• University of Illinois B.S. Veterinary Science 1981
• University of Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine D.V.M. 1983

Moved to Albuquerque in 1983, staff veterinarian at Bolton Animal Hospital for the 5 years prior to opening Northview Animal Hospital.

Hobbies: Fishing and other outdoor activities, Travel.

Married with 2 children.

DVM, MS, DACVA

Dr. Lemke

• University of Illinois BS Veterinary Science 1981
• University of Illinois DVM 1983
• Diplomate America College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia 1995
• Worked in a small and large animal practice in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest from 1983-1989
• University of Illinois Residency and Masters in Science in Anesthesiology and Pain Management from 1989-1993.
• Taught Anesthesiology and Pain Management in Australia, Canada, and United States from 1993-2020.

Hobbies: Flyfishing, skiing, biking, and spending time with his labrador, Copper.

Dr. Tvede is originally from Albuquerque, NM, and attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her clinical year at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England. After graduating, Dr. Tvede spent four months thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail before beginning her veterinary career.

While hiking the AT, Dr. Tvede met her husband, Reid, and they eventually settled in Tennessee, where she worked as a general practitioner. The couple recently completed a thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail before returning to Albuquerque. They enjoy any activity that involves being outdoors, especially hiking, running, rollerblading, and paddleboarding. They also have a little adventure cat named Makita, who joins them on hikes and kayaking trips.

Dr. Avila has been a dedicated small animal general practitioner for the past three years. A graduate of Washington State University’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, Dr. Avila has lived in Albuquerque for most of her life and is passionate about improving the health and well-being of pets in the community. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Avila’s Cuban heritage allows them to connect with a diverse range of clients and provide personalized care to pets and their families.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Avila enjoys practicing martial arts, exploring Albuquerque’s beautiful hiking trails, and playing tennis. They are excited to welcome new and familiar faces to the practice!

Ashley has been in veterinary medicine for eight years. Since the age of seven, she aspired to work in this field. Pursuing her dreams, she earned a degree in Veterinary Technology from Brown Mackie College in 2017. She holds a strong interest in surgery and exotic animal care. At home, she has three wonderful pets—two German Shepherds named Arlo and Bella, and a cat named Ember.

Outside of work, she enjoys pet sitting, dancing, and having game nights with her husband. Her favorite movies are The Wizard of Oz and The Lion King.

Eugene has been working in veterinary medicine for 13 years, including four years in emergency care. Growing up with many pets, he developed a deep love for animals and a strong desire to help them. He also finds it rewarding to support pet owners during difficult times. Eugene has a particular interest in surgeries, which he finds both fun and fascinating.

Passionate about urgent care, he enjoys the fast-paced nature of the field. At home, he has three wonderful pets—China, an English Pointer; Ače, a Pitbull mix; and Colossus, a mixed breed.

Outside of work, Eugene enjoys fishing, working out, and hiking. His favorite book series is Goosebumps, his favorite movie is Harry Potter, and he is a fan of the Cowboys and Lakers.

Amber has been working in veterinary medicine for five years. Her passion for animals and desire to make a positive impact on their lives and well-being led her to pursue this career. She has a particular interest in surgery and virology and enjoys expanding her knowledge in these fields. At home, Amber has one cat named Drake.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, running, reading, traveling, and working on ceramics. Her favorite sports team is the Denver Broncos.

Carol has been working in veterinary medicine for two years. Having been around animals all her life, her love for them naturally led her to this career. She finds blood draws, catheters, and surgery preparation particularly interesting and enjoys developing her skills in these areas. At home, Carol has a wonderful group of pets—two dogs, one cat, and one ferret.

Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family and her fur babies.

Mackenzie has been working in veterinary medicine for a little over a year. Having grown up around animals, she wanted a job that involved them—one where she would truly enjoy what she does every day. She finds dental care and pharmaceuticals particularly interesting and loves learning more about these areas of veterinary medicine. At home, Mackenzie has one pet—a cat named Valentine.

Outside of work, she enjoys catching up on sleep or spending time with friends and family. Her favorite movie is Pride & Prejudice, and her favorite book is We Were Liars. She also loves Harry Potter—both the books and the movies!

Heather has been working in veterinary medicine for one and a half years. Her passion for helping animals during natural disasters and crises led her to pursue this career, with the goal of working alongside the Red Cross to aid animals in need. She has a strong interest in critical care and finds it to be one of the most fascinating areas of veterinary medicine. At home, Heather has one lovable pibble named Stella.

Outside of work, she enjoys writing and playing video games. Her favorite movie, book, or musical is Hamilton.

Andrea has been working in veterinary medicine for four years. Her love of animals inspired her to pursue a career in this field. She finds dental procedures particularly interesting and enjoys working in that area of veterinary medicine. At home, Andrea has one pet named Charlie.

Outside of work, she enjoys woodburning (pyrography) as a creative hobby. Her favorite sport is hockey, and she’s a big fan of the NJ Devils. She also enjoys football, and her team is the Chargers.

Bio Coming Soon!

Liz has been working in veterinary medicine for five years. Her love for animals has always been stronger than her love for people, which led her to pursue a career where she could care for them every day. At home, Liz has three dogs and one cat who keep her company.

Outside of work, she enjoys going to concerts and watching horror movies. She’s a huge fan of horror movies—they’re her favorite genre!

Reina has been working in a veterinary setting for three years. Her interest in veterinary medicine grew when she became a pet owner herself. Having always loved animals and grown up watching animal programs on TV, it made sense for her to surround herself with others who share the same interests and passions. Before entering veterinary medicine, Reina worked at a dog training facility but found herself more drawn to the medical side of things. She finds surgeries and anatomy particularly interesting, especially X-rays and ultrasounds.

At home, Reina has a full house with two dogs, one cat, and two chickens.

Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and two daughters. Over the past year, Reina has taken up running and enjoys participating in local 5Ks. She is a huge football fan and cheers for the Dallas Cowboys. Reina also loves watching her nephew play baseball for his club team.

Piper has been working in veterinary medicine for almost six years. She started as a CSR, worked next door, and quickly fell in love with veterinary medicine. She finds learning about different medications, new treatments, and tools for both clients and clinics particularly interesting.

At home, Piper has five wonderful pets—two dogs, Louie and Lemon, and three cats, Mavis, Jack, and Howie.

Outside of work, Piper enjoys spending time with her family, going to the movies, taking her dogs to the park, and relaxing at home. She loves comedies, especially anything with Adam Sandler. One of her favorite movies is Darkness Falls, and she also loves all things Disney, especially Zootopia!

Betty has been working in veterinary medicine for close to 30 years. Her deep love for animals led her to pursue a career in this field, where she especially enjoys building strong relationships with clients through interpersonal communication.

At home, Betty has six wonderful dogs—four Wolfhounds named Aoife, Ruby, Aine, and Fionn (Jameser), as well as two Labs named Bryg and Niamh.

Outside of work, Betty loves all things dog-related, including teaching and participating in rally at Sandia Dog Obedience Club. She also enjoys having lunch with friends. Currently, she is enjoying the series by Thurlo and loves books by Tony Hillerman and Anne Hillerman. Some of her favorite movies are Oklahoma, Carousel, and My Fair Lady.

Hayley has been working in veterinary medicine for four years. Her goal is to provide excellent care and put in maximum effort for both her colleagues and their guests. She finds all areas of veterinary medicine interesting and enjoys learning as much as she can. At home, Hayley has two wonderful dogs, Theo and Cricdiet.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, learning new things, and spending time with her dogs. Some of her favorite movies include The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Road, and the Final Destination series.

Justice has been working in the veterinary field since 2019. She finds the kennels and each animal’s behavior particularly interesting. At home, she has six pets: five dogs and one cat.

Outside of work, Justice enjoys playing, performing, and listening to music (especially guitar), hiking, running, playing video games, watching movies, photography, and spending time with loved ones. Her favorite book is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, and her favorite sports team is the Dallas Cowboys.