Dr. Barbara Syndey Stein was considered one of the world's leading feline practitioners and served as president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and was the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) practitioner of the year. In addition to fielding calls from around the world on feline care, Dr. Stein was a consultant to the Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoos. The Chicago Cat Clinic was founded by Dr. Stein in 1975.