I am Tammy Morris, one of the optometrists at The Eye Center. I have been working here since 1997 except for a brief period of time after the birth of my daughter who has a rare digestive disease. Since her birth 12 years ago I have reduced my schedule to part-time to care for and advocate for her and others in the rare disease community. Part of this advocacy includes moderating a Facebook group for parents with the same diagnosis my daughter has. We help families navigate this chronic illness on 3 different continents. The first year of my daughter’s life was spent in 7 different hospitals in 5 different states!  Despite frequent hospitalizations and surgeries she thrives and is the joy of our lives.

Although I was born in Batesville, AR, and still have a slew of family there, I consider myself a Fayetteville native since my family moved here from Minnesota when I was 3, as my Dad chose Fayetteville to begin his oral surgery practice. I have been cheering on the Hogs and Purple Dogs ever since. I vividly remember Arkansas winning the 1978 Orange Bowl mostly because I was awed by the halftime performance, and watching Eddie Sutton’s coach greats like Sidney Moncrief and U S Reed in Barnhill Arena. I attended undergrad at the U of A majoring in Natural Sciences and then attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN graduating in 1994. During optometry school, I was a member of Gold Key Optometric Honor Society.  I received the outstanding senior clinician award, the Welch Allen Award in 1992, and the PBH award for excellence in Contact Lenses in 1994. I served as class secretary and as an SCO student ambassador.

Since I began practicing in Fayetteville in 1994 I have been honored to serve as a five-year board member of the Junior League of NWA, volunteer optometrist at St Francis House, a four-year board member of the Arkansas Optometric Association, and have been on “Give the Gift of Sight” mission trips to Costa Rica, Jamaica, and the Philippines. I have graduated from Leadership Fayetteville. In 2000, I was named to the NWA Business Journals 40 under 40. Along the way, I have really enjoyed leading a few Girl Scout troops and teaching catechism at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville. I have been married to my amazing husband, Mark, for 15 years. Mark grew up in Springdale and Pryor, OK, and is also a graduate of the U of A. He is Vice President of Wealth Management for Raymond James in Fayetteville. We have a cat named Blossom and a guinea pig named Biscuit. I enjoy reading, spending time with friends and family,  traveling (especially to Disney World), and doing arts and crafts with my daughter.

Marking my 25th year of practice I was so honored to be named “Best of the Best Eye Doctor” by the NWA Democrat Gazette. I truly enjoy helping my patients by improving and protecting their vision. I feel so blessed that many patients that I began helping as children,  now have families of their own and allow me to see their own kiddos.

Fun fact: My niece lives in South Korea and is the lead singer of a band named Audrey No!