The Hayes Center (HCPE) for Practice Excellence, a vital resource for SCO students and alumni, is pleased to announce its 2019 award recipients for the HCPE Practice of Excellence Award.
The HCPE Practice of Excellence Award is designed to identify and reward successful practices, recognize the achievements made by SCO graduates, and help foster joint relationships that benefit both the alumni and current optometry students.
The Hayes Center for Practice Excellence (HCPE) saw a banner year of interest in its 2019 HCPE Practice of Excellence Award with a record 57 young ODs nominated this year.
The awards are divided into three sections based on the number of years of practice: long-term graduate, midterm graduate and recent graduate. A panel of judges consisting of members of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence Advisory Board, the Director of HCPE and Dr. Jerry Hayes made the selection.
“All the judges feel secure in knowing the future of our profession is in good hands,” said Lisa Wade, OD ’84, MPA, Director of HCPE. “These alumni are doing amazing things and setting a high bar for their peers.”
Long-term Graduate award recipient (2008-2011) Murray Pratt, OD ’11, practices at Lifetime Eye Care in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mid-term Graduate award recipients (2012-2014) John Nail, OD ’12, and Hannah Schmidt Nail, OD ’13, practice at Curtis Optometry, in Columbus, Mississippi.
Frank Carusone, OD ’16, practices at EyeXcel in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Congratulations to the HCPE Practice of Excellence Award recipients!

L-R: Nathan Hayes, Natalie Hayes, Frank Carusone, OD ’16, John Nail, OD ’12, Hannah Schmidt Nail, OD ’13, Murray Pratt, OD ’11, and Jerry Hayes, OD ’73.