Dr. Gary Brough

Dr. Gary Brough, Chief of Optometry and Residency Supervisor, is a graduate of Southern California College of Optometry. After completing a hospital-based residency at the Albuquerque Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, he entered private practice in Utah until moving cross-country to the Memphis VA in 1993. At that time, there were no optometric residents or externs. However, in 1994 he received funding for the first VA optometry resident in Memphis. Through his leadership, the VA eye clinic has grown to four paid optometry resident positions, student externs, and three full-time residency-trained staff optometrists.

Dr. Brough is well-versed in optometric education. He served as Chairman for two years for both the Utah Optometric Association Continuing Education Committee and the Eye Foundation of Utah’s Continuing Education/Quality Control Committee. He also acted as Chairman for the Foundation’s Advisory Board, and later as Chairman for the UOA Quality Assurance Committee. From 1994-1998 he participated as either examiner, assistant chief examiner, or senior examiner for the NBEO.

Dr. Brough’s accomplishments have been recognized by his peers. The UOA awarded him the President’s Award in 1993 and a Certificate of Recognition in 1991. He was voted Utah’s Young Optometrist of the Year in 1989.

Politically, Dr. Brough is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Tennessee Optometric Association, the National Association of VA Optometrists, the West Tennessee Optometric Society, and the Tennessee Academy of Optometry. His is past Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer for the UOA.

His publication credits include articles on mucus fishing syndrome and venous stasis retinopathy, and he boasts an extensive list of poster presentations at SECO. He is an assistant professor at SCO, and holds instructor status for the University of Tennessee Medical School Department of Ophthalmology. He has a wife, Marie, and four children.

Dr. Michael White

Dr. Michael White, Externship Supervisor, graduated from Southern College of Optometry in 1997. He completed a hospital-based residency at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in 1998. Following this he served as an associate and Clinical Director for an ophthalmology practice. There he assisted with the externship program, co-managed glaucoma and cataract surgeries, performed primary care optometry, and networked with other physicians in the multidisciplinary care of the patient. He returned to the VA in August 2000 as a staff optometrist to oversee and expand the clinical externship program.

A former high school anatomy and physiology instructor, Dr. White has a strong history of teaching. He has been the VA externship supervisor since the program’s inception. His interests include baseball, computer gadgetry, and serving as deacon for his church. He has a wife, Debbie, and son, Jonathan.

Dr. White is Secretary of the National Association of VA Optometrists (NAVAO), and holds membership in the Tennessee Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. He is the recipient of several awards, most recently the Southern Diplomat Honor at SECO 2003.

Dr. Jim Williamson

Dr. Jim Williamson, Residency Coordinator, is a 1997 Southern College of Optometry (SCO) graduate. He completed a hospital-based residency at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center Memphis in 1998. Following this he returned to SCO as an instructor. A year later he accepted a position as the optometrist for a referral center where he treated eye disease and co-managed cataract, LASIK, glaucoma, and retinal surgeries. He also helped teach the optometry resident and externs. During his tenure there he was nominated for Tennessee Young OD of the Year twice. He re-entered the VA in December 2002 – this time as a staff optometrist.

Dr. Williamson is former President and Vice President of the West Tennessee Optometric Society. He has frequently lectured locally for continuing education meetings. His interests include tennis, computers, golf, and traveling with his wife Mindy, a nurse. He holds an undergraduate degree in journalism, and a regional golf magazine published an article he wrote on UV radiation.