Meet Your Dedicated Ham Lake Veterinary Team

Dr. Laura E. Gerbec, a proud alumna of Harvard University, holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota, class of 1997. With a profound dedication to feline medicine, Dr. Gerbec combines her deep knowledge and passion to advance the well-being of cats.

After over two decades of practicing veterinary medicine in South Carolina, Dr. Gerbec has returned to her roots in Minnesota. Her diverse background includes competing in the jumper divisions of horse shows, adding a unique dimension to her professional expertise.

Beyond her veterinary pursuits, Dr. Gerbec is an avid reader with a particular fondness for 19th-century novels and contemporary Young Adult fiction. Her rich blend of professional focus and personal interests makes her a compassionate and knowledgeable advocate for animal health.

Dr. Tomas is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 2018. He has a strong passion for small animal medicine, with a special focus on internal medicine and acupuncture. His gentle approach and dedication to patient care have always made him a favorite among pets and their families.

When he’s not working at the practice, Dr. Tomas enjoys hiking, visiting family in Florida, going to the beach, and playing the piano. He also shares his home with a very special rescue dog from Alabama named Rita.

Hello my name is Alicia Zigan. I graduated from Minnesota school of Business with an associate’s degree in veterinary technology followed by passing my VTNE in 2010 to become a fully credentialed Veterinary technician. I have been rocking the veterinary tech world since 2011. I started here at Ham Lake Veterinary Hospital in February 2024 and plan on continuing my career for years to come within the home I have found here . Throughout the years I have explored many other ventures in Veterinary medicine including: oncology, adverse event reporting, and also have taken some time off to start a family. My passions in veterinary medicine include clinical practice, client education, and the bond between animals and humans.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband (Zach), our two daughters (Aurora and Luna) as well as Voltron (our three legged dog), Zara (cat) and The Count aka Drac (Cat). As a family we enjoy camping, agate picking and fishing just to name a few.

Hello, my name is Melissa. I have worked in Veterinary medicine since 2018. I started as an assistant in an emergency clinic before starting college to become a Veterinary Technologist. I graduated with my Veterinary Technology Degree in Canada in 2021, shortly thereafter I took the VTNE to become a registered Veterinary Technologist. I worked with dogs, cats and exotics for the last few years before moving down to Minnesota in July of 2024 to marry my now Husband.

I started at Ham lake in March of 2025 and have been absolutely loving it!

I have many interests in Veterinary medicine, so far I think surgery and client education has been my favorite!
Outside of work I enjoy gaming, especially during the winter cold months, and during the summer I love camping, hiking, Kayaking, and swimming and just spending time outside with my dog Daisy and my Husband!

I’ve been working in the vet field since January of 2021. I went to Minnesota State University – Mankato and got a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. I have 4 cats – Luna (pictured), Simba, Nacho and Queso. Outside of work I enjoy cooking, baking and watching movies. My favorite thing about vet med is helping sick pets feel better and watching puppies/kittens grow up!

Hi there, my name is Olivia Zwiefelhofer and I am a veterinary assistant currently in school to (hopefully) become a CVT. Life brought me into the VetMed field after working in shelter med and dog training. I absolutely love this job and all the patients/clients I have helped so far! I have 2 dogs, both Alaskan Klee Kai’s or Mini Huskies. Nani is the youngest at 6 years old and she is the one in my picture, the other is Kodiak and he is 8 years old. I really love working with larger breed dogs and hunting breeds! My favorite animal is a raccoon and I would honestly love to work with wildlife one day. I look forward to taking care of your lovely furry family members!

Leah is a dedicated member of our team, bringing her passion for animal care to both the front desk and kennel areas. She takes pride in ensuring that every pet feels safe and comfortable during their visit while providing friendly and compassionate service to clients.

Kennedy is the head receptionist and has been a valued member of the team since September 2021. With a lifelong passion for animals, she takes pride in working in an environment dedicated to improving the health and well-being of pets every day. Kennedy loves building lasting relationships with both pets and their owners and is often one of the first friendly faces clients see at the front desk.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her tuxedo cat, Louise, and her two German Shepherds, Ace and Jax. In her free time, Kennedy likes reading, watching movies, and playing video games.