Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

Three Generations At Spivey Eye Clinic

Posted

McKENZIE — Dr. Brooke Spivey, the oldest daughter of Dr. Scott Spivey, began her practice at Spivey Eye Clinic on 45 Hospital Drive in McKenzie last month, making her the third-generation Spivey to join the business, after her dad and her grandfather, Dr. A.L. Spivey III. Brooke, a 2014 graduate from McKenzie High School and a 2017 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, graduated with her doctorate degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis this May.

Brooke Spivey grew up watching her dad and her grandfather work in optometry, which is part of the reason she went into the practice. She always wanted to go into the medical field, and she enjoyed the flexibility of her dad’s schedule as an optometrist. She job-shadowed and had a mentorship at Northwest TN Eye Care in Martin while attending UTM, which showed her the different ways optometrists could practice. She also attended two externship rotations—one in Louisville and one in Chattanooga—and one internship rotation while attending the Southern College of Optometry. She thinks it is “pretty cool” to continue her family’s legacy, as they are the people who influenced her and made her want to practice optometry.

Dr. Brooke Spivey is trained in optometric laser use, a skill which is not yet approved in Tennessee. Being fresh from college means she knows many new techniques, as technology and legislation in optometry is rapidly changing. She is excited to use her knowledge to help care for people in her community. One thing she learned from her dad is that when patients go to the doctor’s office, their appointment should be all about them. It is the doctor’s job to not only take care of a patient’s eyes but to listen to patients.

Brooke Spivey married Corey Burress this April. Corey is from Martin and works in construction. The couple currently resides in McKenzie but are in the process of building a new home in Martin.

Dr. A.L. Spivey plans to retire from the business October 1 after 55 years of practice. After his retirement, he plans to maintain his optometry license so he can fill in for his son or his granddaughter if needed. He is proud of Brooke and is happy to see her serve her hometown and continue the family legacy at Spivey Eye Clinic. His patient exam room will become Brooke’s when he retires.

Dr. Scott Spivey has practiced optometry for 27 years at Spivey Eye Clinic and has two patient exam rooms at the clinic. He will continue his practice alongside his daughter at Spivey Eye Clinic.

The Spivey Eye Clinic business practice originated over 100 years ago, well before Dr. O.C. Wells Jr. bought the business in 1937. Dr. A.L. Spivey, III of Union City started his practice in McKenzie in 1967, joining Dr. Wells. Dr. Scott Spivey joined his father’s practice in 1994, the same year Dr. A.L. Spivey bought out Dr. Wells. The current Spivey Eye Clinic building was built in 1995. The building has four total patient rooms and modern optometry equipment. There are eight full-time employees and three full-time doctors at Spivey Eye Clinic which serves patients in many West Tennessee counties.

Spivey Eye Clinic is open Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1:30 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 to 11 a.m. The clinic’s doctors and staff welcome new patients. To book an appointment, you can call (731) 352-2473.