Meet the Team

Dr. Russell Gilliam has been working in West Tennessee for over 20 years since graduating from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis Tennessee in 1993. He matriculated at the University of Tennessee at Martin and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and still wishes he could attend again as a non-traditional student. He practices family eye care with special interests in macular degeneration and specialized contact lens fittings. He joined with Dr. Danny Donaldson in 2008 to form the EyeCare Center of Martin which led Dr. Danny to lose his hair.

​​​​​​​Dr. Gilliam considers himself lucky to be married to the former Shantelle Brown from Bogus Holler, TN. She is a Kindergarten teacher at Lake Road School in Obion County. He has five children that claim him and one stepchild and the children range from ages 8 to 20. Two of his children attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and members of the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. His other children’s interest range from the theatre to soccer to haunted houses. He stays busy with their exploits and sometimes shenanigans. Dr. Gilliam’s interest includes tennis, the Tennessee Vols, St. Louis Cardinal baseball, walks along the beach, and church. In 2012, Dr. Gilliam and Dr. Tom Manning from Dyersburg joined together to start the Reelfoot Rural Ministry Vision Clinic. This clinic is opened the third Friday of the month and serve those without the funds or health care that cover eye examinations and glasses

Dr. Danny Donaldson has been working at the EyeCare Center of Martin since August 2008, when he and Dr. Gilliam bought the practice from Dr. Davis. He graduated from Westview High School in Martin and the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education.

In 2005, he graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis with a Doctor of Optometry. He had externships with the Eye Care Group in Humboldt, TN and Jackson, TN, and at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, FL.

After graduating, Dr. Donaldson worked as an independent contractor (fill-in) with several offices in West Tennessee before moving home to Martin in 2006. He worked at his practice on Courtright Rd right up until he started working at the EyeCare Center of Martin in 2008. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Dr. Donaldson is married to the lovely Alicia Maya Donaldson. They have two children, Brianna and Nathan and one granddaughter, Jamie.

Angie has been with The Eye Care Center since August 1996, serving as our Receptionist.

Angie is responsible for all check-in procedures, figuring patient balances, taking payments, and scheduling appointments and referrals.

Angie has been in the optical industry for 25 years.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job at The Eye Care Center, she responded, “ Building relationships with all of our patients and seeing their excitement about their new glasses. I also enjoy the relationships I have with my co-workers.”

Angie is originally from Fulton, KY. Angie has been married to her husband Gary for 38 years. They currently reside in Martin. Angie and Gary have 3 children: Ryan, Ashley, and Garrett. They also have 5 grandchildren: Brayden, Jaxon, Linley, Raya Brooke, and Barrett.

Kristin has been with the Eye Care Center since December 2017, serving as our Optometric Technician.

Kristin is responsible for taking medical histories, answering questions about medications, fitting new contact lens wearers, explaining the testing process to patients, performing basic pre-tests and additional special testing, scheduling and coordinating appointments and referrals, and sending prescriptions to the pharmacy.

Kristin has been in the eye care industry for 4 years.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job at The Eye Care Center, she responded, “I like helping others and I love the group of people I work with. One of my favorite things is watching the faces of children light up when they put on their first pair of glasses and see clearly for the first time.

Kristin lives in Dresden with her 2 children.

Emily has been with The Eye Care Center since March of 2019, serving as our Optometric Technician.

Emilly is responsible for taking medical histories, answering questions about medications, fitting new contact lens wearers, explaining the testing process to patients, performing basic pre-tests and additional special testing, scheduling and coordinating appointments and referrals, and sending prescriptions to the pharmacy.

Emily has been in the eye care industry for 4 years.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job at The Eye Care Center, she responded, “I enjoy coming to work every day, seeing all of our patients, and providing an enjoyable experience for them while they are here in our care. I also have great co-workers.”

Emily and her husband Micheal have been married for 16 years. They live in Dresden and have 2 children, Peyton and Nate.

Jennie has been with the Eye Care Center since December of 2019, serving as our Receptionist.

Jennie is responsible for making appointments, scheduling referrals, and ordering and dispensing contact lenses.

Jennie has been in the optical industry for 14 years.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job at The Eye Care Center, she responded, “ I enjoy the friendly atmosphere, the doctors and my co-workers. I enjoy interacting with our patients.”

​​​​​​​Jennie is from Union City. She has two children, Morgan and Nick. She also has a grandson expected in March of 2022.

Teresa has been with the Eye Care Center since August of 2018, serving as our Insurance Coordinator.

Teresa is responsible for filing and posting insurance payments, aging reports, billing questions, credentialing, and refunds.

Teresa has worked in the eye care industry for 3 years.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job at The Eye Care Center, she responded, “ I like the challenge of staying on top of things and getting it all done.

Teresa currently lives in Lynnville, KY. She has 3 daughters.

Aleya has been with the EyeCare Center since June 2016, serving as our part-time Administrative Assistant. As of January 2023, she is our Business Operations Coordinator.

Aleya is responsible for managing business relationships, monitoring financial data, overseeing day-to-day operations, and coordinating staff and patient development activities.

Aleya has two bachelor's degrees and a Masters of Business Administration from The University of Tennessee at Martin.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job at The EyeCare Center, she responded, “I love that the doctors allow me to express my ideas and creativity. I love projects and any opportunity to be innovative. It’s what makes my job enjoyable.”

Deah has been with The Eye Care Center since August of 2023, serving as our Lab Coordinator.

Deah is responsible for frame purchasing, inventory management, fittings and consultation of eyeglass lenses, ordering eyeglasses, and filing eyeglass orders to insurance.

Deah has grown up in the optical industry as her grandfather and uncle were optometrists, her mother is an optician, and her sister is a retina specialist. She has been in the industry herself since 2015.

When asked what she enjoys most about her job at The Eye Care Center, she responded,

“I enjoy meeting new people and helping them find their desired style of frames, and working with the doctors and all my coworkers. The environment is very fun and welcoming!”

Deah graduated from Dresden High in 2013. She has a son named Crawford and enjoys spending time on the lake and being with family and friends.