New Faculty: Dr. Stephanie Holt

Sometimes professors touch the lives of their students in non-traditional ways.

When Stephanie Holt, OD ‘04, Resident ‘05, was a fourth-year student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, assistant professor Gwenn Amos, OD ‘92, Resident ‘93, FAAO, MPH, CMPA, took Dr. Holt skating for the first time and taught her to play ice hockey, something Dr. Holt — who played basketball in college — didn’t have the opportunity to do while growing up in North Carolina. To this day, Dr. Holt still plays ice hockey in a league in Philadelphia.

“The first time I was on skates was with Dr. Amos. And, from that first night I loved it and never left,” said Dr. Holt, who received her undergraduate degree at the United States Air Force Academy and her master’s degree from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia

Then there are ways professors touch the lives of their students in more traditional ways. After graduation, Dr. Holt entered the Air Force as a communications officer, not as an optometrist.

It was PCO professor emeritus Charles Wormington, PhD, OD, FAAO, who encouraged Dr. Holt to go back into the Air Force as a reservist after she became an optometrist, where she eventually would complete her military career after 20 years. 

It’s those kinds of stories that Dr. Holt recalls as she enters her second stint at PCO/Salus, recently joining the faculty as an assistant professor working and teaching in the Clinical Skills Lab as well as teaching Clinical Problem Solving. 

After completing her residency at The Eye Institute (TEI)in 2005, Dr. Holt stayed on a few years as an assistant professor before going back in the Air Force reserves and into private practice. 

Last fall, in the midst of the pandemic, she decided it was time to get back into teaching. 

“I thought I would enjoy that. I was hoping that the modalities that I had practiced in would help as far as being an instructor,” said Dr. Holt. “I always liked PCO/Salus, so I threw my name in the hat and said I was interested in coming back when there was a position open.”

And, her return has been met with open arms as the rest of the faculty have pitched in to help make her feel comfortable. 

“Everybody has been extremely helpful. There are many people that I know from my time as a student that are still here — either they taught me or I went to school with them. I’m colleagues with some of my professors,” said Dr. Holt. “But, they’ve all welcomed me back. If I have questions, everyone has been helpful. It’s been fun teaching again.”

There have been some changes, though, from her first stint as an assistant professor. Salus as a university has grown and now offers more programs. The clinical facility - TEI - has completely changed and been renovated. And, the technology in the Clinical Procedures Lab has evolved after a recent renovation.

Dr. Holt was working in private practice when the pandemic hit and had already started practicing telemedicine, so by the time she returned to PCO/Salus, she was able to hit the ground running with the adjustments to teaching that had to be made because of the pandemic. 

“Even as a practitioner, the pandemic changed how I look at things as well. Those that were students last year have experienced it, those in private practice have now experienced it and adjusted,” said Dr. Holt. “No matter what level, the pandemic gave us all a new perspective and a different test that we haven’t had before.”

During her own time, Dr. Holt still participates in the women’s winter and spring hockey leagues. She’s had only one serious injury over the years that she doesn’t talk about (don’t say anything, but it was a broken ankle that required surgery) although she’s a lot more careful now.

And, when she’s not on the ice, Dr. Holt enjoys being out in her yard gardening during the summer, walking and engaging in various outdoor activities with her wife Pam and their dog Scout.

But for now, she’s quite pleased to be back in academia. 

“I enjoy teaching, I love it when I see the lightbulb come on. The students practice and they want to learn. You see them do the skills and when they get it, you know when they get it. It’s very rewarding,” said Dr. Holt. “For me, as long as it works out for the school, I see myself being here for a long time. That would be my plan.”