About

Dr. Richard W. Phillips graduated from Milligan College in 1974 and Southern College of Optometry in 1978.  He was in private practice, forming Tennessee’s first optometry/ophthalmology partnership at the John Wilson Eye Clinic until accepting the position of Executive Director of TLC Laser Eye Centers – TriCities in 1996.  Dr. Phillips served as Regional Executive Director for Tennessee Operations until 2006, and additionally served as Regional Clinical Director Advisor for the Southeast United States.  He has published many articles and lectured internationally on the subject of refractive surgery.    He became President of Southern College of Optometry in May 2007.

Dr. Phillips is a Past President of the Tennessee Optometric Association as well as the Tennessee Academy of Optometry.  He was awarded Tennessee Optometrist of the Year in 1998.  He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.  He has served as a member of the New Technologies Committee of the American Optometric Association, as well as the Refractive Surgery Committee.  Additionally, he served as Chair of the Professional Relations Committee of that organization and was appointed to the Healthy Eyes, Healthy People Oversight Committee.  He is a Past President of SECO International, and is currently the chair of the “Awards and Resolutions” committee for that organization.  He is a member of the Academic Affairs Committee for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, and serves as liaison from the ASCO board to the Continuing Education Group, Practice Management Educators SIG.  He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee College Association.

Richard W. Phillips, OD, FAAO
1245 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104-2222
rphillips@sco.edu