Meet Dr. Tollison, Dr. Tom, and team
I was born in Greenville and aside from spending 1 year in Houston, Texas for my dad’s orthopedic fellowship, spent my formative years on the east side of Greenville. I went to Clemson University for undergrad and MUSC in Charleston for dental school. Due to my wife’s family’s extensive military history, I elected to serve in the Air Force and received a dental school scholarship. As an Air Force dentist, my family and I were stationed in Washington, D.C., Okinawa, Japan, and Montgomery, Alabama. After my military commitment, exactly 30 years after my dad’s orthopedic surgery fellowship in Houston, we moved to Houston Texas for a 26-month residency in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
One of my favorite quotes by Simon Sinek reads, “When you compete against everyone else, no one wants to help you. But when you compete against yourself, everyone wants to help you.” Let me tell you, God has blessed me in so many ways and I have had a TON of help! My father, Michael, passed on a relentless work ethic and my mother, Cheryl, has given me an extremely positive outlook on life. My brother, Bailey, and I mainly played baseball and soccer growing up, but knew early on that I would need to find a career other than becoming a professional athlete! My wife, Megan Cassity Tollison, has been my rock of stability, support, and encouragement since we started dating at Riverside High School. My children (Lewis, Georgiana, and Arabella) teach me life is simple, even if it does not always appear that way. All of these influences and more have developed me and are collectively reflected in who I am. I believe life isn’t a sprint or a marathon, it’s a relay. Coming back to Greenville is very exciting on so many levels for my family, but one of the things I am most excited about is investing in our community and the next generation.
I look forward to earning your trust with your orthodontic needs!
(Bonus, one of my favorite poems as an orthodontist about how your smile can mean so much!)
The Value of a Smile
“A smile costs nothing, but creates much.
A smile enriches those who receive without impoverishing those who give.
A smile happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.
None are so rich they can get along without a smile, and none are so poor but are richer for their benefit.
A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in a business, and is the countersign of friends.
A smile is a rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble.
Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen; for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody ‘til it is given away.
For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give.”
– Frank Irving Fletcher
Tom Atkinson, DMD, MS
Dr. Tom Atkinson is a native of Greenville, SC and has practiced orthodontics here since 1990. He started practice in the same office with his father (the first pediatric dentist in South Carolina) and patients started call him Dr. Tom— they have ever since. He now treats many students of the very schools he attended years ago in Greenville: Beck Academy, J.L. Mann High School, and Furman University. His grown children Trey and Katie, are both graduates of Furman University and have diverse careers. Dr. Tom’s wife, Karen, works for Clemson University and also has two grown children. Dr. Tom’s greatest reward in practice is the positive impact he makes for his patients which lasts their entire lifetime.
In addition to creating beautiful smiles Dr. Tom is also a craftsman and musician. His passion since the early 2000’s has been woodworking— creating one-of-a-kind pieces of heirloom quality furniture, repairing antiques, or crafting something unique for his home. He also plays electric bass guitar, something he has done since childhood, playing in several bands and performing for many church functions. Dr. Tom has also been involved in his church, serving as a deacon along with other leadership roles in his church.
After leaving Furman in 1983 he earned his doctorate in dentistry in 1987 from the Medical University of South Carolina, College of Dental Medicine (Charleston, SC) where he was awarded 4 prestigious honors:
International College of Dentists: Outstanding Achievement
Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics: Outstanding Achievement
The Quintessence Award for Academic Achievement
American Association of Endodontists: Certificate of Merit
In 1990, Dr. Atkinson earned his Masters of Science in Orthodontics from Washington University (St. Louis, MO). He maintains membership in the American Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, and Southern Association of Orthodontists. He continues his education constantly, studying with the world leaders in orthodontics, various MasterMind groups, the Dawson Study Group locally, and various other associations. Dr. Tom is constantly teaching within his profession and regularly writes articles to educate fellow dentists professionals about orthodontics.
Kristie: Lead Orthodontic Assistant
Kristie grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and lived there for about 30 years where she earned her degree as a Certified Dental Assistant from Nashville Technical College in 1994. Kristie and her husband Mark have a blended family of four adult children, two daughters and two sons, along with two grandsons and one granddaughter. In addition to spending time with her precious grandbabies, Kristie’s loves spending time in the mountains and counts both fall and summer as her favorite seasons.
Fun Fact: Kristie grew up spending Sundays at the airport with her grandfather watching the planes land and she would love to someday take flying lessons. Also, do not ask Kristie to sing country music!
Riley: Appointment Coordinator
Riley is a Greenville, SC native and graduated from Erksine College in 2020 with a BS in Business Administration. Her husband, Dawson, is a private pilot and welder and they welcomed a beautiful daughter named Winsley in March 2022. She is the youngest of three siblings, Hunter and Landi. In addition to spending time with her family, Riley love crafting, baking, the Atlanta Braves and Georgia football.
Riley joined the team here at Dr. Tom’s in November 2022.
Fun Fact: In her free time she does wedding hair and makeup. Also, Riley is responsible for the majority of the holiday decorations you see when you come to visit!
Haylee: Clinical Assistant
Haylee grew up locally and graduated from Liberty High School in 2021. After graduation, she attended Capstone for Dental Assisting and graduated in 2023. Haylee competed in gymnastics for 14 years before retiring. Haylee, her son, Ziggi, and little sister, Mya, have three adorable dogs: Sandy Mae, Beans and Penelope.
Haylee joined Dr. Tom’s in May 2023.
Fun Fact: Haylee is quite proficient on a one wheel, a motorized skateboard. Also, she and Riley are now besties and can often be found together on the weekend with their kiddos at Hobby Lobby!
Kelley: Financial Coordinator
Kelley is a Greenville native, having attended Hillcrest High and Greenville Tech and currently lives in Simpsonville. Her husband Bruce and she have 4 children along with 13 marvelous (and busy) grandchildren. Kelley came to work with Dr. Tom in 2013 after having been the Office Manager for an Internal Medicine group for 12 years and involved with medical billing for about 5 years before that.
She loves spending my time at the lake with family, working in my flowerbeds at home, and babysitting my grandchildren.”
Fun Fact: Kelley used to lift weights and compete in powerlifting matches.
Cathy: Treatment Coordinator
Cathy was born in Winnipeg, Canada and raised outside of Philadelphia however, she came to Greenville in 2022 after living in Las Vegas for eleven years. People often ask how living in Vegas was and to that she would say “amazing!”. Her husband Marco, teenager Alex, and Cathy love to travel together and are known for throwing some killer board game nights with friends.
Cathy have been the Treatment Coordinator for Dr. Tom since March 2023.
Fun Fact: She is a die-hard Las Vegas Golden Knights hockey fan and spent two years playing right wing on all women’s hockey team called the Fury. On her bucket list is to visit every NHL Stadium (preferably to cheer on the Knights!).