2022 OD of the Year - Recipient and Finalists
Steve Edwards, OD
Dr. Steve Edwards is an optometrist in Water Valley providing complete eye care services for the surrounding communities.
As a licensed optometrist, Dr. Edwards provides exams, diagnoses, and treatments of all disorders that affect the eye or vision. In addition to training in eye diseases and disorders, Dr. Edwards is also trained in anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology. With this background, Dr. Edwards is trained to recognize a range of health issues; such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes and hypertension. Dr. Edwards works hard to stay current on the latest advances in eye health and vision care and regularly attends continuing education seminars and advanced training courses.
A native of Water Valley, Dr. Edwards, did his undergraduate studies at Mississippi College and received his Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in 1987. Dr. Edwards is board certified by the National Board of Examiners of Optometry and has served as a proctor for the examination.
Professionally he has served as a clinical instructor at the Southern College of Optometry and was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant to serve on the Mississippi State Board of Optometry where he is serving his second term. Dr. Edwards is also a member of the American Optometric Association and the Mississippi Optometric Association.
Glenn Goldring, OD
Dr. Glenn Goldring is currently an assistant
professor at the Southern College of Optometry. He joined the prestigious staff at SCO in 2008. Dr. Goldring teaches valuable clinical skills and mentors
students by providing guidance, motivation, and stressing the importance of becoming an active voice in the national optometric association as well as their state’s association.
Dr. Goldring was honored to serve as a faculty
representative for SCO’s Mississippi Student Club.
Following his graduation at Southern College of Optometry in 1978, Dr. Goldring opened his own practice in Senatobia, Mississippi.
Dr. Goldring took great pride in giving back to the
community. His volunteer services included vision care at the Baptist Children’s Village and the Baddour Center in Senatobia. His volunteer work also included vision care at the Memphis Church Health Center and other services at the Memphis Food Bank.
Dr. Goldring sold his practice in 2018 after serving
the community for nearly 40 years.
Dr. Goldring’s professional involvements included chairing the Political Action Committee (PAC) for the MOA during the critical period when Mississippi passed both the optometric diagnostic and therapeutic laws. He was instrumental in
setting up the necessary and required continuing education, which allowed optometrists to begin using their newly attained therapeutic licenses. He served as the president of Northwest Mississippi Society for 5 years. Dr. Goldring served as the chairman of the board for the Omni Eye Service of Memphis, from 1987-1989. The Omni Eye Service played a major role in supporting optometrists
in the states of Mississippi and Tennessee.
Dr. Goldring is a lifetime member of the Mississippi Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. He has served as a
Southern College of Optometry representative for both SECO and the AOA.
Dr. Goldring continues to be an active member of the optometric family while maintaining his family life with his wife, Jamie of 45 years, their daughter,
son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Ryan Wally, OD
Ryan Wally, OD is a partner at Oxford Eye Clinic & Optical in Oxford, MS. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and with a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry in 2008. He practiced in McComb, MS, prior to moving to Oxford in 2013. He currently serves on the AOA State Government Relations Committee, as Legislative Chair for the Mississippi Optometric Association, and serves as MOA Secretary/Treasurer. He and his wife, Allison, are proud parents of Hayden, 12, and Andrew, 7.
2022 Young OD of the Year - Recipient and Finalists
Mallory Morris Collins, OD
After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Mississippi State University, Dr. Collins graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southern College of Optometry in 2019. She is passionate about providing access to the newest innovations in eye care for people living in rural communities and decided to return to her hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, to practice. As an optometrist at Clarksdale Vision Center, Dr. Collins strives to provide patients with optimal eye care by introducing new technology and methods, such as the fitting of scleral contact lenses and performing YAG laser posterior capsulotomies. She is an active member of the Mississippi Optometric Association and currently serves as the chairman of the Grassroots Committee. Dr. Collins enjoys volunteering countless hours in her community as a member of Junior Auxiliary, Kiwanis Club, and Rotary Club of Clarksdale. She is passionate about traveling, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.
Walter Pang, OD
Dr. Walter Pang is a native of Batesville, MS and a 2013 graduate of the Southern College of Optometry. After graduation Dr. Pang went on to practice in the Jackson Metro area for 6 years. In 2019 Dr. Pang and his wife relocated to Memphis, TN. He now practices in DeSoto County at Olive Branch Eye Care and Horn Lake Eye Care. In his spare time Dr. Pang enjoys playing golf, hunting, and spending time with his family.
Robert Phyfer, OD
Robert Phyfer is from West Point and practices at Brooks Eye Center in Columbus, Mississippi. There was a time in his life when he was homeless living out of a Toyota Corolla praying he’d be an optometrist. Optometry has been a life changing opportunity for both himself and his future family.
During his residency in Daytona Beach, Florida, he was introduced to full scope medical optometry and teaching optometric interns. His residency director, Andreea Chih O.D., played a vital role in molding him into the optometrist he is today. With Dr. Chih as his mentor, he learned the importance of being thorough, accurate and decisive. She took such pride in her work and wanted her legacy to make a profound impact on optometry. 6 years later and he is forever grateful to this woman, and the impact she had on his career.
Dr. Phyfer is very passionate about what optometry, the impact optometrists make on their communities, and the ability to teach optometric interns in a clinical setting. Mississippi is a great state to practice optometry, and he is proud to say he practices here with some of the most progressive optometrists in the nation.
2022 Roger Loose Optometric Award
Dewey Handy, OD
The Roger Loose award has only been given three (now four) times since its creation in 2013. Criteria for the award is having given 25+ years of service of optometry; never been an Executive Board member for the MOA, and has contributed to optometry and the community in a multitude of ways – including financially.
Dr. Handy has previously served on the MOA board of directors (but not executive board) and chaired the MOA’s Low Vision Committee from 1996 to 2001. He served two five-year terms on the Mississippi State Board of Optometry representing Old Congressional District 3. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the National Optometric Association.
Dr. Handy earned a bachelor of science degree in physics and a master of science degree in chemistry from Jackson State University and was awarded his doctor of optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry in 1979.
After working in optometry in New Orleans, he returned to Jackson to teach physics and open a private practice. While continuing to maintain a thriving practice, he has served as an adjunct faculty member at the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn., and as a preceptor for fourth-year students from the college.
Dr. Handy is very active in the community and has worked with hundreds of children through his volunteer efforts with the Boy Scouts, as a classroom sponsor for Barr Elementary School and by conducting vision screenings at local schools. He also gives presentations on eye care and participates in high school career days. He was medical advisor for Preserve Sight Mississippi from 1999 to 2001.
Dr. Handy has received numerous awards for his professional and community achievements, including the Whitney Young Jr. Service Award, the Silver Beaver Award and District Award of Merit from the Boy Scouts; the National Optometric Association’s Optometrist of the Year award; the Humanitarian Award from Mississippi Minority Development Week; and the Hometown Hero Award.
2022 OD Community Service - Recipient and Finalists
Hilari McFarland, OD
Hilari McFarland is a private practice owner with two locations; one of which is in her hometown of Purvis, Mississippi. Hilari has been an active member with the MOA since the beginning of her education in 2006. After graduation in 2010, she completed a 1 year residency in geriatrics and ocular disease at the St Louis VA. In 2012 she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She currently serves on the MOA board for district 5, and is the Committee chair for Industry Liason. Hilari was a member of the 2016-2017 Leadership Optometry class where she and her colleagues designed a convenient handout available to use in the schools to help parents and teachers identify children experiencing vision problems. To help give back to her community she has aligned herself with the Pinebelt Lions Club to provide pro-bono eye exams, and has been awarded the Lion Hearted award for her service. As a University of Southern Mississippi graduate, she provides pro-bono exams for all Southern Miss Athletics, and is their official eye care provider.
Kimberly Johnson Ragan, OD
Dr. Kimberly Johnson Ragan practices at Ragan Family Eye Care, LLC located in Madison, MS. She is a 2004 graduate of Southern College of Optometry. Dr. Ragan is a graduate of the MOA Inaugural Leadership Optometry Class in 2015. As the current Board President of the Mississippi Vision Foundation, she has helped guide the foundation through its expansion which includes the awarding of the Helen St. Clair Scholarships for rising Optometry students and restarting the 3rd grade Eye Exam program. Dr. Ragan’s commitment to the community continues through her participation in the Infant See and the Vision Mississippi program. She is active on the Grassroots committee helping to support the professions legislative priorities. Dr. Ragan is thankful for the opportunity the profession has afforded her to serve her community.
Ryan Wally, OD
Ryan Wally, OD is a partner at Oxford Eye Clinic & Optical in Oxford, MS. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and with a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry in 2008. He practiced in McComb, MS, prior to moving to Oxford in 2013. He currently serves on the AOA State Government Relations Committee, as Legislative Chair for the Mississippi Optometric Association, and serves as MOA Secretary/Treasurer. He and his wife, Allison, are proud parents of Hayden, 12, and Andrew, 7.
2022 Para of the Year - Recipient and Finalists
Britany Burge, CPO
Britany Burge has worked at Picayune Eye Clinic for the past five years. She started as an optometric technician preparing patients for the doctor. Her role was expanded within the practice as the clinic director, managing all office flow such as finances, MIPS and HIPAA compliance, patient care, and all billing and coding inquires. She is a certified paraoptometric and has decided to further her education by getting an undergraduate degree in Medical Billing and Coding along with an Associates in Healthcare Administration. She is married with two children and likes to explore the outdoors in her time off.
Tiffanie Cooley
Tiffanie Cooley was born and raised in Laurel, MS. She has been married to Trint Cooley for 16 years and is mother to two beautiful girls, Kirsten (14) and Bentleigh (8). She currently works at Eye Care Associates (6 years) as an optometric technician/scribe, as well as filing insurance claims for all five centers, and handling accounts payable. She has been working in the healthcare field for 19+ years and in eyecare for 6+ years. Throughout her career, her greatest enjoyment is being able to make her patients smile. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and friends at the lake jet skiing, painting, and reading a good book. She is a member of Grace Covenant Church in Ellisville, MS.
Brianne Speaks
Brianne Speaks has worked in optometry for almost 23 years, with Dr. James E. Brooks in Columbus, Mississippi. Throughout her career she has developed a passion for developing and empowering staff, fostering an environment for practice growth, and educating her community about the importance of eye health as it pertains to routine vision as well as overall health. She has served as Practice Administrator for the last 16 years and had the opportunity to serve her community and profession in many capacities. The most fulfilling moments in her career have been when she was able to facilitate eyecare for patients who would not otherwise have had it, as well as helping staff grow and achieve a level of professional satisfaction they have never experienced.
2022 Para Community Service - Recipient and Finalists
Britany Burge, CPO
Britany Burge has worked at Picayune Eye Clinic for the past five years. She started as an optometric technician preparing patients for the doctor. Her role was expanded within the practice as the clinic director, managing all office flow such as finances, MIPS and HIPAA compliance, patient care, and all billing and coding inquires. She is a certified paraoptometric and has decided to further her education by getting an undergraduate degree in Medical Billing and Coding along with an Associates in Healthcare Administration. She is married with two children and likes to explore the outdoors in her time off.
Tiffanie Cooley
Tiffanie Cooley was born and raised in Laurel, MS. She has been married to Trint Cooley for 16 years and is mother to two beautiful girls, Kirsten (14) and Bentleigh (8). She currently works at Eye Care Associates (6 years) as an optometric technician/scribe, as well as filing insurance claims for all five centers, and handling accounts payable. She has been working in the healthcare field for 19+ years and in eyecare for 6+ years. Throughout her career, her greatest enjoyment is being able to make her patients smile. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and friends at the lake jet skiing, painting, and reading a good book. She is a member of Grace Covenant Church in Ellisville, MS.
Rebecca Sullivan
Rebecca Sullivan began her paraoptometric career 3 years ago as a technician at Family Vision Clinic. From her first day there, she fell in love with patient care. She learned at an early age to always work hard and love others.
Rebecca values hard work, is dedicated, and is very passionate about her profession. She finds joy in training new team members to do their very best and she makes it a priority to encourage them to learn all they can about Paraoptometry.
In her free time, she likes to play sports (volley ball, basketball & softball) and also spend time with family and friends. Music is a passion of hers also. She enjoys different genres of music and on occasion is known to sing a little as well.
