Dr. Marcus Hetzner was born in Nurnberg, Germany and moved to the United States in 1980 with his stepfather, a pilot for the US Army, mother and three siblings. They spent three years in Savannah, Georgia before his stepfather received orders for another stint in Germany. His family returned to the US in 1985, where his stepfather was stationed at Fort Drum, NY where Dr. Marcus subsequently attended Lowville Academy and Central School until he graduated in 1994. From there he attended St. Lawrence University on a full academic scholarship and eventually graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelors of Science in 1998. After college, Dr. Hetzner worked for the Watertown Eye Center in Watertown, NY while completing more prerequisite classes to apply to veterinary school. In 2000, Dr. Hetzner was accepted at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary medicine, joining the class of 2004. He earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2004 and after graduation accepted a position at Countryside Veterinary Clinic. There he worked as a small animal practitioner and surgeon for the next 15 years. With a desire to grow his surgical practice (with particular interests in orthopedic, ophthalmic and soft tissue surgeries), Dr. Hetzner accepted a position at the Marcy Veterinary Clinic in Utica, NY in January of 2020. He continued his small animal practice there as their head surgeon until 2025. Looking to be back closer to his North Country home, he accepted a position at Dr. Eric Putman’s Valley Veterinary Clinic practice. Dr. Hetzner still resides in Lowville, NY with his wife, Lisa, and his two sons, Alexander and Nicholas. The family is rounded out with two cats, Sealy (domestic shorthair) and Berrus (Sphinx), and three canine companions, Finnegan (Golden Retriever), Remy (Cane Corso) and Riggs (Havanese). Outside of his work as a small animal practitioner and surgeon, Dr. Hetzner finds relaxation in his wood shop, his camp, gardening, traveling, kayaking and spending quality time with his family and pets.

Dr. Marissa Courtemarche grew up in southern New Hampshire surrounded by mountains and animals. She worked her way into the veterinary field by becoming an assistant in high school, then later a veterinary technician and worked all through her undergraduate biology degree at Franklin Pierce University. Dr.Courtemarche then completed her doctorate degree at Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine in Harrogate, TN. During her last year there she was able to study at many different veterinary hospitals throughout the country. Her all-time favorite was at the well-renowned Yellowstone Equine Hospital in Cody, Wyoming. This hospital focuses on implementing prosthetics for horses who have lost a leg due to an injury. After Dr. Courtemarche graduated with her DVM, she worked at two different small animals clinics in New Hampshire for a few years and the more experience she got the more she realized the type of veterinarian she was becoming. A doctor with a gentle touch, a genuine compassion for the animals she treated, and who strived to build a strong relationship with her clients. Dr. Courtemarche recently moved to New York as her husband is stationed at Fort Drum. They brought their dogs, cats, and two mustang horses. With her time outside of being a veterinarian, Dr. Courtemarche trained these horses from the wild. When Dr. Courtemarche isn’t working, you may find her and her husband out for a jog with their dogs, a hike, or horseback riding. Dr. Courtemarche also enjoys reading with a cup of tea and a cat or two on her lap.