STANDIFER - Key Persons
After graduating from college with a bachelor's degree in business, Dr. Cobb began her career in marketing/sales for laparoscopic medical equipment, spending a great deal of time in operating rooms watching surgeries, sparking her interest in the practice of medicine.
Around this time, she adopted her first puppy, Miles, and taking him to the veterinarian's office made her realize that animal medicine was even more intriguing to her than human medicine.
Encouraged by her parents to pursue her passion, Dr. Cobb quit her job and returned to school full-time to complete the science prerequisites necessary to apply to veterinary school. She was accepted into the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine's Class of 2006. After graduation, she moved to Birmingham to get married and launch her veterinary career.
"I absolutely love getting to build long-term relationships with pet owners and their fur babies," she says. "My days are filled with precious pets and interesting people…it never gets old!"
Dr. Hugh Washington was raised in Decatur, Alabama, and realized his passion for treating animals at the age of nine.
Dr. Washington first held a general assistant position at fourteen at a local veterinary practice which solidified his goal of pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine. Dr. Washington enrolled in the Animal and Dairy Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine track at Auburn University and, after three years in the program, was accepted to the 1985 class of Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Washington held a position as an Associate Veterinarian for two years at Apollo Animal Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama, and for four years at Riverview Animal Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, before opening his own practice in Hoover, Alabama in 1991. After closing his practice in 2010, he worked at one other practice in the Birmingham area and held multiple relief veterinarian positions prior to joining Standifer's Animal Clinic in 2018 on a relief basis initially, which eventually developed into a full-time position.
Dr. Washington developed a keen interest in resolving ear diseases and was the first Elite certified Fear Free practitioner in the Birmingham area. He continues to develop interests in dental care, ultrasonography, endoscopic therapies, and improving medical care for companion animals.
Dr. Wayne Standifer was a 1982 graduate of the Auburn School of Veterinary Medicine where his father, the late, Dr. William Standifer also graduated in 1951 and founded Standifer's Animal Clinic in 1957.
Dr. Standifer retired from veterinary practice in 2019.
Dr. Wayne Standifer took over the practice from his father and continued the Homewood tradition until his retirement. Dr. Stephen LaRocca joined Dr. Standifer out of vet school in 2015 before leaving to seek out additional training. He is happy to rejoin the practice in 2021 as lead veterinarian.