Dr. Tamra (Tami) Soriano earned her undergraduate degree at Missouri State University. She then moved to St. Louis to complete her Doctorate of Optometry at the University of Missouri- St. Louis. She graduated with honors, received the Dean's award, and completed her 4 years as the valedictorian of her class. She also received the Kaplan Research Award and the Pediatric Award upon graduation from UMSL. Following graduation, Dr. Soriano worked for three years in St. Louis and briefly in Joplin before opening the doors of Carthage Eye Care in December of 1992. In 2011, she received the Athena Award from the Carthage Chamber of Commerce for being an outstanding example of compassion to women and children in need. Dr. Soriano is an active member of the American Optometric Association and the Missouri Optometric Association.
Dr. Soriano has been married to her husband, Greg, for 32 years. Greg enjoys teaching at the radiology technology program at Missouri Southern State University. Dr. Soriano also has two daughters, Kailie and Torie. Kailie enjoys her career at the Leffen Center for Autism, working with children and their families through therapy sessions and integration into normal school atmospheres. Torie has followed in her mother's footsteps by becoming an optometrist, and joined Carthage Eye Care as an associate optometrist in June of 2017.
While Dr. Soriano loves her patients in Carthage, one of her most fulfilling passions is traveling overseas for medical mission trips. Dr. Soriano has been to Mexico, Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Togo to provide eye exams for those who simply don't have access to medical care. These mission trips usually require a few helpers, so her family frequently joins her. Susan, our beloved office manager, has also accompanied Dr. Soriano on these trips, and has become a vital part of caring for our overseas patients.
In her down time, Dr. Soriano loves to travel with family and friends. Some of her favorite destinations include Kauai, Hawaii and North Captiva Island in Florida. Dr. Soriano also loves watching crime shows with her daughters and cooking.