About Us
About Onalaska Animal Hospital
Meet Dr. Nicole Azene
Dr. Nicole Azene brings extraordinary expertise to Onalaska Animal Hospital and the community, having practiced veterinary medicine in the private sector, academia, and as a federal employee.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Nicole earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2005. She also completed post-doctoral training in laboratory animal medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In addition to time spent in small animal private practice, Dr. Nicole has cared for animals at various nonprofit rescue organizations. As a federal employee, she provided veterinary oversight and preventive medical care, managed chronic diseases, and led her division’s intensive care unit at the National Institutes of Health. She further serves as Attending Veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
Dr. Nicole moved to the Coulee Region in 2013. Her passion for nurturing the human-animal bond continues to grow along with her desire to provide pets with the best medical and surgical services in the Coulee Region. This prompted her to open Onalaska Animal Hospital in 2022. Dr. Nicole takes special interest in helping dogs and cats live their best lives by managing chronic diseases and educating owners on the importance of good oral health for their pets.
Away from veterinary medicine, Dr. Nicole enjoys a busy life with her husband and three children. They share their home with Dr. Nicole’s mother as well as Oliver, a dachshund whom Dr. Nicole rescued during her first year in veterinary practice.
Where Every Pet is Family
Michelle Hemp
Michelle Hemp
Michelle Hemp serves as practice manager at Onalaska Animal Hospital. It’s a role she knows well after serving in such a position for more than 25 years.
As practice manager, Michelle oversees the business operations, including staffing and benefits, finances and bookkeeping, client services, and community relations.
Not only does Michelle have extensive experience in running a veterinary practice, but she also has a deep affection for animals. She was a pet therapy volunteer with her border collie Teddy for eight years. Through that experience, she witnessed the power of the animal-human bond and how deeply animals benefit our lives. She and her family were recognized for that service when the Coulee Region Humane Society named them Volunteers of the Year.
Michelle is a native of West Salem, Wisconsin. She and her husband Brian raised their son Sam in the region and are also parents to Bella and Harley, mixed-breed Maltese-Chihuahuas.
Rita Miller
Referral Veterinarian
Rita Miller, DVM, MS, ACVIM Diplomate
Dr. Rita Miller is a board-certified veterinary specialist in small animal internal medicine.
At Onalaska Animal Hospital, Dr. Miller serves as a valued veterinary consultant providing abdominal ultrasounds and echocardiograms to patients.
She earned her DVM from the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Her training also includes completion of a small-animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of Guelph in Canada and a master’s degree from the Ohio State University.
Dr. Miller also serves as an assistant clinical specialist in small-animal medicine at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and provides telemedicine consults for Idexx Laboratories.
Steven Timm
Referral Veterinarian
Steven Timm, DVM
Dr. Steven Timm is a mobile veterinary surgeon who practices in southwestern Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota.
Onalaska Animal Hospital is fortunate to utilize Dr. Timm’s expertise in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. Steven enjoys the challenges of helping to treat pets throughout the driftless area.
Dr. Timm is a DVM graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. His experience includes wildlife epidemiology and surgical sterilization, emergency and critical care as well as over twenty years as a mobile small animal veterinary surgeon.
In his spare time Dr. Timm has an old country farmhouse he cares for, and enjoys the fishing, hiking and wildlife of this region.
.jpg)
Brandi Aliesch
Brandi Aliesch
Brandi Aliesch serves as a veterinary technician, bringing 22 years of experience working with animals. She assists with surgery, dentistry, laboratory work, X-ray and IV catheter placements and is especially skilled in working through emergency situations. She says the best part of her job is learning something new every day. And she especially enjoys being part of a Fear Free, compassionate team.
An animal lover at heart, Brandi has two dogs, Chili and Willow, and four cats, Noodles, Smores, Weeny and Pepper. In her free time, she most enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, whom she says are growing up very quickly.
Mackenzie Curtis
Mackenzie Curtis
Mackenzie Curtis is a veterinary assistant who, with her bubbly personality, develops friendships with many patients and clients. She has worked with animals since 2018 and has a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in equine science from the University of Arkansas.
Off hours, Mackenzie enjoys playing with her dog, Apollo, and two cats, Artemis and Teeny. She also likes to read, spend time outdoors and travel to see her family.
Maddie Haun
Maddie Haun
Maddie Haun serves as both a receptionist and a veterinary assistant, where she helps Dr. Nicole with patient care and treatment. She has experience in doggy daycare and boarding, and is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She is considering graduate studies to earn a doctorate in veterinary medicine.
.jpg)
Madison Clarke
Madison Clarke
Madison Clarke is a customer service representative at Onalaska Animal Hospital, where she provides excellent service and enjoys interacting with both clients and patients. She describes OAH as a place where the staff is one big family that mixes fun and business with a lot of love and knowledge to share. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
Madison has a German shepherd named Shep and an American Paint Horse Association horse named Boomerang. In addition to horseback riding, Madison likes kayaking and tubing on the river, playing with animals and, most of all, spending time with her family.
Sara Sherrard
Sara Sherrard
Sara Sherrard serves as a customer service representative. She delights in establishing relationships with clients and patients and brings exceptional compassion to her work. She has an associate degree from Western Technical College.
A firm believer in the animal-human bond, Sara has a dog, Mylee, and a cat, Nala. On her days off, you’re likely to find her spending time outdoors with family, hiking, camping or ice fishing.
Offering A Broad Range Of Veterinary Services In Onalaska Under One Roof
learn more
