Dr. Morris graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 1964.  After completing a Rotating Internship at the City of Memphis Hospitals, he served for two years in the United States Public Health Service as a general medical officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  He completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and affiliated hospitals and entered the private practice of ophthalmology in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971.

He served first as a Clinical Instructor and then as Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Tennessee.  In 1973 he received an academic appointment as Assistant Professor and served as supervisor of the residency program at the Methodist Hospital.  In 1987 he left private practice to enter full-time academic activities.  It was at this time an interest developed in Ophthalmic Pathology.  He has served as the Chief of the Ophthalmic Pathology Service in the Department of Ophthalmology since that time.  In 1992 he was promoted to Associate Professor. 

He has also been the clerkship director for the Ophthalmology portion of the Surgical Sub-Specialties Clerkship for fourth-year medical students.

Research Interests:

Ophthalmic Pathology; Teaching models

Selected Publications:

Morris WR, Fleming JC. Respiratory choristomatous cysts in the temporal orbit. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2001; 17(6):462-4.

Morris WR, Osborn FD, Fleming JC. Traumatic evulsion of the globe. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2002;18:261-7.

Wilson MW, Moshfeghi DM, Haik BG, Syed NA, Morris WR.  Choroidal osteoma in a patient with contralateral persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. RETINA 2002 Jun:22(3):358-360

Ashmore ED, Wilson MW, Morris WR, Hill DA, Rodriguez-Galindo C, Haik  BG. Corneal juvenile xanthogranuloma in a 4-month old child. Arch Ophthalmol. 121(1):117-118, 2003.