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, Managing Director
Head of Surgery and Orthopaedics
In daily practice, Dr. Hiestand runs part of the general consultation hours and takes special care of the Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the skin. Surgery and imaging examinations (X-ray, ultrasound and endoscopy) are further focal points.
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.Â
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.Â
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'.
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Dr. med. vet. Hanna Stamm
Specialist veterinarian FVH small animals
Head of Small Animal Medicine
Since August 2023 Dr. med. vet. Hanna Stamm, Veterinary Specialist FVH 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.Â
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).
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Dr. med. vet. Leslie Wohlgroth
Co-founder of the Obersee practice and life partner of practice owner Michael Hiestand. Â
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.
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Veterinary anesthesia technician / VAT
Jasmin Härtsch, VAT/TPA
Jasmin Härtsch joined the Obersee-Praxis team on March 1, 2025. The likeable Grisons native completed her apprenticeship as a TPA in Sargans in 2016. She then worked at the Aarau West Veterinary Clinic in Oberentfelden until 2021, successfully completing the VASTA training course to become a veterinary anaesthesia technician. She then returned to her 'regular practice' in Sargans. We are very pleased that she has now moved to Altendorf and can perfectly complement our team.
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Veterinary Practice Assistants (TPA)
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 her additional training as a medical and hospital secretary.
In 2024 Mrs. Gloor became Mrs. Beeler and in June she had a baby! We are all happy for her! After her maternity leave, she has been working part-time at the Obersee practice again since October 2024.
She was an active ice hockey player for Rapperswil-Jona and also enjoys sports (snowboarding, swimming). How could it be otherwise? She also grew up with animals. Her cat Bartholomew is of course also perfectly looked after.Â
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Claudia Maier, TPA, medical and hospital secretary
has been back with us since October 2020. After Ms. Maier 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. Since then, she has been back with us at Obersee and, as usual, provides us with enormous support. After successfully completing her additional training as a medical and hospital secretary in 2023, Ms. Maier worked part-time in an ophthalmology practice in human medicine as an exciting addition. Since August 2024, she has now increased her working hours at the Obersee practice again.
Tamara Schmid, TPA
In August 2023, the experienced Veterinary Practice Assistant Tamara Schmid has joined us. She is a mentor for our TPA trainees. The Glarus native completed her apprenticeship as a TPA in Zollikon until 2014. Before that, she gained professional experience in the commercial sector after graduating from commercial and office college. She is therefore also a great help in our back office.
However, equestrian sport was always of great importance to Tamara and she continued to be active as a show jumper. An intermediate year as a rider in an equestrian sports stable rounded off her extensive professional experience. Since completing her apprenticeship, she has gained a further 10 years' experience in various small animal practices.Â
At home she looks after her two beloved cats and the friendly Jura running dog 'Puma', who often lives in our practice offices during the day.
Shannon Grellmann, TPA
has been working for us as a career changer TPA since December 2024
Ms. Grellmann has an extremely exciting CV: She grew up in Namibia with a German passport, where she also completed her degree in Animal Science (BSC Agriculture) and studied veterinary medicine for three years. Her mother tongue is therefore English. Unfortunately, she was unable to build on this due to an extended baby break. Instead, she repeatedly worked as an assistant in clinics and even wildlife parks. After moving to Ireland, she spent two years at Maynooth University looking after the inpatient animals in the Bio-Resources Unit until she joined us. She supports our TPA team part-time as a career changer.
The Grellmann family moved to Switzerland with husband Guilliam and their two children Lilly and Maya. Dachshund 'Max' was of course always with them as a world traveler! Mrs. Grellmann is also a gifted singer and was known as such in Namibia, where she also took beautiful wildlife photographs. Now she is doing everything she can to integrate here in Switzerland. Her warm and friendly manner will help her a lot.
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.Â
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....
