Hayes Center for Practice Excellence at Southern College of Optometry Launches Inaugural Program
MEMPHIS, Tennessee – The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence (HCPE) recently launched its inaugural program at Southern College of Optometry (SCO) in Memphis, Tennessee.
Private Practice Primer for Recent Graduates targeted optometrists in practice five years or less in any practice setting. Nationally recognized consultants, Dr. Jerry Hayes and Dr. Neil Gailmard, led the line up of noted faculty participants. A series of presentations and small group break-out sessions highlighted the weekend.
The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence at SCO was established in 2005 through the generosity of Dr. Jerry Hayes and his wife, Cris, along with subsequent matching funds from SCO.
One of the first of its kind, HCPE focuses on teaching optometrists how to manage the business side of their practice. The center marks a giant step forward for the profession; helping to establish that the business of optometry is just as important to the health of the profession and individual practices as the art and science of optometry.
The HCPE exists to serve as a resource for all optometrists through educational program offerings and optometric business resources.
“We’re focusing on the business side of running an optometric practice—strategic planning, budgeting, overhead control and increasing profitability. We want to promote fundamentals of sound business principles,” said Dr. Hayes, who brings more than twenty years of experience to support the HCPE mission.
During his inaugural remarks to attendees, Dr. Hayes advocated the need for providing a resource in which optometrists could turn for optometric business principles.
“We want to create that platform where practicing ODs can go to get an organized base of information that will help them be more successful on the business side of their practice,” Dr. Hayes said.
Dr. William E. Cochran, President of Southern College of Optometry, saluted Dr. Hayes for his foresight and generosity.
“I’ve known Dr. Hayes since his graduation from SCO. He has been very successful in his professional career and Jerry has not kept his success to himself. He is an avid supporter of the profession,” remarked President Cochran.
Additionally, Dr. Cochran recognized the commitment of Vision Service Plan (VSP) in promoting the mission of the Hayes Center. A grant was awarded to HCPE in support of the Private Practice Primer for Recent Graduates and established an educational partnership for future program offerings.
As the Hayes Center develops, its goals include providing continuing education services, a website with an organized database of information, a “matchmaking” service to link younger optometrists with more established optometrists looking for practice partners or buyers, and to facilitate study groups who get together to share business-related information.
The inaugural HCPE attendees already have realized the benefit of participating in the center’s inaugural offering.
After attending the first event, Melissa Schwebach, OD, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, wrote, “Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the program last week at the Hayes Center in Memphis. I came back to work with great ideas and a renewed enthusiasm for private practice.”
Another comment came from Melissa McCully, OD of Fargo, North Dakota. She echoed the excitement generated at the HCPE inaugural program. She stated, “Thank you for all of your advice, encouragement, and inspiration to be a successful independent practice owner. On the flight home from Memphis, I wrote four pages of ‘things to do’… Your interest in my practice and my immediate and long-term concerns made me realize how lucky I was to be at the Hayes Center… I have raved to everyone I know about how wonderful the weekend was!”
The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence at Southern College of Optometry looks to be a great resource for students, recent graduates, and established practitioners alike.
Resources and information regarding future programs are available on-line at http://hayescenter.sco.edu/. Questions can be directed to Dr. Kristin Anderson, Executive Director at 901.722.3277 or email at kanderson@sco.edu .
Submitted by:
Kristin K. Anderson, O.D.
Executive Director
901.722.3277