Faculty Profile: Kristy Remick-Waltman, OD, FCOVD, FAAO

WesternU College of Optometry Associate Professor and Founding Director of Community Outreach Kristy Remick-Waltman, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, joined the College in 2008 as its second faculty member. She brings 25 years of private practice experience with specialty background in pediatrics, visual therapy for all ages, special populations, and neuro-optometric rehabilitation.

What is your fondest memory of the College professionally and/or personally?

My fondest memory is Honors Day and graduation of the College of Optometry’s inaugural Class of 2013. These students were true pioneers and as faculty members, we were SO proud of them!

What do you love about the College?

I treasure the opportunity to have the profession of optometry to be included as one of the valued professions at Western University of Health Sciences. What an honor to be included!

Why did you choose the College?

I chose the College because of its mission to emphasize neuro-optometric rehabilitation.

Why did you choose the profession of optometry?

I chose optometry after I realized that pharmacy was not the career for me. I saw a flier at Cal State Long Beach that said, “Join the Pre-Optometry Club” and I just knew…

What is your favorite thing about being an optometrist?

I have helped thousands of struggling students become successful in school and that is SO rewarding.

I also loved writing the book, Eyes on Track, and receiving testimonials from so many people, of all ages, that were helped by the “vision practices” in my book.

What are your passions outside optometry?

I raised Arabian horses for many years, and now have a gelding, my third generation of horses I bred, named “Nova,” that I ride on the horse trails of Rancho Cucamonga. I also love teaching children to ride horses. I have a Bengal cat, named Truman, that loves to “ZOOM bomb” during virtual vision therapy clinic. Another passion is traveling to Hawaii. I have been 18 times and plan to go again this summer.

Passion projects?

I am working with another published author to develop a curriculum for educators about visually-related literacy.

What’s the most interesting thing you’re working on right now?

I just authored two scientific posters, along with Bradley Habermehl, OD, FCOVD, for the COVD Annual Meeting. The topics were, “The Benefits of Virtual Vision Therapy for Refractive Amblyopia,” and “Improvements in Exotropia with Virtual Vision Therapy.” The plan is to publish these case reports to demonstrate the effectiveness of virtual vision therapy.

What is your current goal for professional development?

I am developing new lecture material on optometric vision therapy for special populations, professional correspondence, learning-related vision difficulties, and sports vision.

What is your next professional goal?

My professional goals include developing a curriculum for educators and occupational therapists on the topic of the importance of vision in the reading process.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment is the success and happiness of my family.

What is your go-to song or artist on your playlist? What is the last concert you went to?

I love classic rock ‘n’ roll. “Do You Believe in Magic” by the Lovin’ Spoonful, and Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” are great songs! My most recent concert was “Santana” at “House of Blues” in Las Vegas, and my favorite concert of all time was a private “Rolling Stones” concert.

What was your favorite subject in optometry school?

I received the highest grade in my Class of ’96 at SCCO in the psychobiology course taught by Lou Hoffman.

Have you ever had to “unlearn” something? What was it?

I “unlearned” the love of traditional breads. For health reasons, I chose to become “gluten-free” and learned how to cook and bake with alternative flours. I make amazing brownies!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received professionally?

You have a “purpose in life,” and it’s up to you to find what you love, and then you never have to “work.”

What is your favorite quote?

“Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.”

What is the last thing that really moved you – happy, excited, tears of joy, or any emotion?

Our first grandchild, Kalia Maya, came to our home for Thanksgiving and I got to hold her; she’s precious!

Go-to items? What is in the trunk of your car? What is in your everyday bag?

My son lives in Seattle and works for Nordstrom corporate, so I’m blessed to go shopping with him and his big discount. I love my Dyson hairdryer, Nordstrom shoes and clothes, and MAC cosmetics.

I’m a cowgirl so I always have cowboy boots in the trunk of my car.

I love to have extra different-powered multifocal contact lenses in my purse.

What have you done recently to leave your mark on the world around you? An act of kindness? Large or small, please share?

I love helping children to succeed in school and good vision skills are an important factor in learning. I developed the College of Optometry vision screening battery and to date, our College has screened over 30,000 Pomona Unified School District students. Recently, in addition to PCS-1, we have added vision screenings to our Clerkship curriculum, and I have been a Preceptor this Spring. We have identified numerous children with vision problems that were missed due to the pandemic.

What motivates you every day and gets you out of bed in the morning?

I love teaching optometry students and inspiring the next generation of optometrists.

Their future is unlimited!!!

What is your favorite vacation spot? Or what is your dream vacation spot? Why?

I truly love the Big Island of Hawaii because of its diversity, warm ocean water, and tropical beauty.

If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

I would travel to Egypt to ride Arabian horses in the desert and visit the Sphinx and pyramids.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I will always be involved in optometry and children’s vision; it is a true passion.

I’m flexible and always open to new ideas and opportunities.

What’s something that has surprised you about being an Optometrist?

I love that developmental optometry and COVD/OEP/NORA is like a big loving family.

What person has influenced you the most in the field of Optometry?

There are so many!

A short list would have to include Jerry Getman, Beth Ballinger, Julie Ryan, Carl Hillier, Stan Kaseno, Greg and Beth Gilman, Homer Hendricksen, Wid Bleything, Blanch Brandt, Vicki Bedes, Frank Terranova, Dan Kurtz, and Elizabeth Hoppe.