Small animal practice team
Our small but very experienced and competent team consists of two veterinarians and three veterinary practice assistants EFZ as well as one practice assistant in training.
Veterinarians
Dr. med. vet. Michael Hiestand
Owner and manager of the practice. As a practicing veterinarian, in addition to general consultation hours, he pays special attention to the diseases of the musculoskeletal system as well as operations and is also responsible for imaging examinations (X-ray, ultrasound and endoscopy).
As a particular specialization, Dr. Hiestand deals with physical treatments such as cold plasma therapy, which is used especially in dermatology and wound healing, but also in pain therapy. is applied.
He grew up as a 'local' in Wollerau and studied and did his doctorate in Zurich. The residency years began in 1994 in Au on Lake Zurich followed by residencies in various practices and clinics in different regions of Switzerland. For the last 10 years before founding the Obersee practice, he was a partner and operations manager of a larger practice near Lucerne where he also worked as a surgeon.
In his private life, he is a passionate skier and alpinist. Exploring the mountains with his partner Leslie Wohlgroth and their two dogs, Enzo and Fiona, is one of his favorite pastimes. Every now and then, he may even climb a '4000-meter peak', from which he prefers to ski down in deep snow or balance over a beautiful ridge.
In addition to the two Cirneco dell' Etna, the two holy Burmese cats Caillou and Zsazsa and 4 Moorish tortoises complete the small 'zoo'.
Dr. med. vet. FVH Hanna Stamm
Since August 2023 Dr. med. vet. FVH Hanna Stamm, Specialist Veterinarian for Small Animals active in the Obersee practice. In addition to her excellent education, the small animal specialist also brings a lot of practical experience with her. For the past three years, she has been the head veterinarian at a VetTrust AG practice in Uster. Dr. Stamm continues to act as a consultant specialist advisor for the assistant veterinarians at VetTrust AG.
After graduating from the University of Vienna in 2014, she completed her doctorate at the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine at the University of Zurich on the ultrasound examination of cat kidneys. This was followed by various positions as an assistant veterinarian in Switzerland as well as an internship at the Basel Veterinary Clinic.
We are very pleased that Dr. Stamm has now decided to join the Obersee practice. She will be conducting consultations with us, doing medical evaluations including ultrasound exams, and also working in surgery. Within the next year, Dr. Stamm will also be European ESAVS Ophtalmology Training graduate with the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS). This means that we have our own eye disease specialist at the Obersee practice.
Privately, Hanna Stamm is married and has a little daughter (Maila). Of course she grew up in her family with dogs and cats . Besides animals, Hanna Stamm is interested in kite sports. This exciting hobby she pursues intensively on water and on land (snow).
Dr. med. vet. Leslie Wohlgroth
Co-founder of the Obersee practice and life partner of practice owner Michael Hiestand.
Opened Switzerland's first cat practice in Horgen in January 2023. She is already fully committed to managing this 'sister practice' to the Obersee practice. For this reason, she is no longer working at the Obersee practice.
Veterinary Practice Assistants (TPA)
Shayenne Wehrli, TDA and TPA
has been working with us since April 2024. After completing her apprenticeship as a TPA in 2017 in a small animal practice in Zurich, she worked in various other small animal practices and clinics in the greater Zurich area and gained a lot of experience. Due to her great enthusiasm for the profession, Ms. Wehrli decided to additionally train as a veterinary dental assistant. In 2022, Ms. Wehrli was then able to receive her diploma as a TDA-WTPA. As an extremely dedicated person, she also devotes her free time to animals. With her own dog Kim, there is a lot of fun to be had in dog sports, from canine cross and scooters to biking and skijoring or hiking, many things are possible with Kim. The evenings belong to the two cats Ayumi and Motshu.
Melanie Beeler, TPA, medical and hospital secretary
joined the team in April 2018. After completing her apprenticeship as a TPA in a private practice in Meilen, she worked in small animal medicine at Zurich Veterinary Hospital for 7 years. She brings a lot of professional experience to the team. In 2023, Ms. Beeler completed additional training as a medical and hospital secretary. In 2024, Ms. Gloor became Ms. Beeler and she is now expecting a baby and will therefore take a baby break in the middle of the year. We are all happy for her! Ms. Gloor was an active ice hockey player at Rapperswil-Jona and also enjoys sports (snowboarding, swimming). How could it be otherwise? She also grew up with animals and enjoys going for walks with the family dog Chuck. Her cat Bartholomew is of course also perfectly looked after.
Claudia Maier, TPA, medical and hospital secretary
has been back with us since October 2020. After Claudia had already worked with us from 2010 to 2017, she went on a trip around the world. After returning to Switzerland, she gained further experience in a small animal practice in Aargau. Now she is back with us at Obersee and is actively supporting us as usual. After successfully completing her additional training as a medical and hospital secretary in 2023, Ms. Maier is still working part-time in an ophthalmology practice in human medicine as an exciting addition.
Tamara Schmid, TPA
In August 2023, the experienced Veterinary Practice Assistant Tamara Schmid has joined us. The Glarus native completed her apprenticeship as a TPA in Zollikon until 2014. Prior to that, she gained professional experience in the commercial sector after graduating from commercial and office college. However, equestrian sport has always been of great importance to Tamara, in which she is still active as a show jumper. An intermediate year as a rider in an equestrian sports stable rounds off her extensive professional experience. She has cats at home and since completing her apprenticeship she has gained a further 10 years' experience in various small animal practices
Apprentice veterinary practice assistant
Alexa will
Started her three-year apprenticeship as a veterinary practice assistant with an X-ray license in August 2023. Alexa went to school in Horgen and is a native speaker of German and Portuguese and also enjoys speaking English. Alexa naturally loves animals. She grew up with rabbits at home, looks after Tracy the cat and loves horse riding. Working with animals has been a dream of hers since childhood. Being able to help animals and offer support to their worried owners is a great motivation for her. She is also very interested in the medical background of the profession and enjoys the work in the laboratory. Alexa has a passion for caring for animals, which she can naturally live out to the full in our small animal practice.
Practice Tierli
Enzo
Cirneco dell' Etna, born in November 2020 in Sicily, definitely brings good humor to the team. With all the energy and the many funny ideas 'between the ears' he keeps us busy behind the scenes. But also in his free time he has the potential for great alpine performances, since Cirnecos have climbing in their blood: They have been bred for more than 4000 years to track down wild rabbits on the steep and rocky slopes of Etna. With us they will not be allowed to hunt, but they will scramble and climb even higher. Good conditions to continue the tradition of our ultra cool practice dogs with us!
Fiona
Cirneco dell' Etna, our youngest member of the practice, born on October 13, 2021 in Sicily, can hardly be surpassed in impudence. But because of her stunning charm one forgives her simply everything. Together with Enzo she completes our infernal duo in the office, which turns everything upside down, in case it should be forgotten that there are other things than work!
Caillou
Holy Birman, the tomcat is hard to beat in charm, perfect house cat, typical for this breed, but not boring at all! He provides a lot of entertainment around the clock! But also as a 'freelance practice employee' he is versatile as a photo model to the test eater!
Zsazsa
Holy Birman, maybe a little more cheeky than Fiona? At least when it comes to food for sure! The young queen has an amazingly strong voice and always asks for more. The self-confidence is also reflected in her striking facial markings.
Turtles, Moorish
four in number, are probably from Tunisia. They show us every day how we should actually live: Dosed sunbathing, enough sleep, no stress, eat healthy and in general: Enjoy the essentials in life! They are therefore only seasonally employed and retire in the winter in the refrigerator.
Your field of activity is limited to "green stuff reduction" and is supplemented by extended siestas. You bring some calm and serenity to the operation...aaaaow and again you hold a beak in the practice for demonstration purposes....
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