McKenzie’s Dr. Brooke Spivey Named Young Optometrist of the Year

Dr. Brooke Spivey Burress, of Spivey Eye Clinic, was named Young Optometrist of the Year at the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians Annual Congress this past October.

Dr. Spivey is an alumna of McKenzie High School, the University of Tennessee at Martin and the Southern College of Optometry. She began her practice shortly after graduating with honors in May 2021, joining Spivey Eye Clinic and continuing the legacy her father and grandfather built in McKenzie.

In her fourth year of practice, Dr. Spivey said she was “extremely honored and humbled” to be named Young Optometrist of the Year, representing the best of optometry’s next generation.

While presenting the award, Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians President-Elect Dr. Lisa Privett said, “Dr. Spivey has shown remarkable dedication and care, professional growth and service to both her community and our association. She brings enthusiasm, compassion and an unwavering sense of purpose to everything she does.”

Dr. Spivey cares for patients of all ages and all seasons of life. An advocate for in-person care, Dr. Spivey’s greatest lesson she’s learned since joining Spivey Eye Clinic is the importance of connecting with her patients.

“Nothing can replace the patient-doctor connection that in-person care provides,” said Dr. Spivey. “It truly makes a difference in the understanding of the patient as a whole. Their personality, the obstacles they face in daily life, their proximity or lack thereof to resources, community — all of these factors play a major role in treatment and management courses we decide on and how we care for our patients. Listening to our patients and taking the time to educate them also plays a big role in outcomes. People rely heavily on their vision for the majority of everyday life. We can’t take that for granted as we care for our patients.”

Dr. Privett also applauded Dr. Spivey’s efforts beyond the exam room.

“Dr. Spivey is an active advocate for optometry in Tennessee, showing a willingness to serve and speak on behalf of her colleagues through legislative efforts that protect and advance our profession,” said Dr. Privett. “Her energy and engagement reminds us of all the strength that comes from young doctors stepping forward to lead.”

In her acceptance remarks, Dr. Spivey told her colleagues, “Optometry has given me the life I have always dreamed of.”

Since 2021, Dr. Spivey has grown in both her professional and personal life. She and her husband — Corey Burress, an optician at Spivey Eye Clinic — welcomed a baby girl to their family in November 2024.

“Not many professions would allow for me to feel competent both as a professional and as a mother the way that optometry has,” Dr. Spivey said. “My husband, Corey, and my work family are a big part of that as well. I am surrounded by so much support.”

Dr. Privett said Dr. Spivey represents everything she hopes for in the future of optometry: “Her ability to balance career, service and family with grace and dedication exemplifies the heart of this award…She’s not only a rising leader but a shining example of what it means to serve others through our profession.”

Spivey Eye Clinic, located at 45 Hospital Drive in McKenzie, is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. (closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.). For a comprehensive list of services, special testing, instrumentation and treatments provided at Spivey Eye Clinic, visit their website www.spiveyeyeclinic.com. To make an appointment with Dr. Brooke Spivey Burress or Dr. Scott Spivey, call or text (731) 353-2473.