Dr. Kristina Offerle, a dedicated optometrist at Eye Care Associates of Michiana, is passionate about assisting patients with limited visual potential, finding it immensely rewarding to enhance their remaining sight with low-vision tools.
Her journey into optometry, influenced by experience in various roles at Eye Care Associates of Michiana and inspired by her father, Dr. John Offerle, reflects a deep-rooted commitment to quality eye care. This led her to pivot from orthopedic medicine to optometry. Dr. Offerle’s educational background is impressive: she’s an alumnus of Indiana University School of Optometry, where she not only completed her degree but also engaged in extensive clinical rotations, including assignments at the university’s clinics in Bloomington and Indianapolis, Eye Surgeons of Indiana, and the VA Clinic of Northern Indiana.
Dr. Offerle, alongside her colleagues, volunteers to provide free vision screenings in local schools and is an active member of VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity). She has taken part in a VOSH mission to Honduras with her father, offering essential eye care services in underserved communities. Her involvement in the “See to Read” program shows her commitment to improving children’s literacy through better vision.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in 2008 and earned her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2010. During her optometric education, she actively served as an Assistant Instructor in Ophthalmic Optics and earned induction into the Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Fraternity. Her dedication to staying at the forefront of eye care advancements is clear in her regular participation in continuing education seminars and conferences.
Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, Dr. Offerle’s roots in the community run deep. She’s a graduate of Marian High School in Mishawaka and is happily married to Chris Nowak, a teacher within the South Bend-Fort Wayne Diocese. The couple who met during high school now live in South Bend with their three children, Izzy, Eli, and Addie. As a family, they cherish their time by the water, often found boating, swimming, or enjoying serene walks around the lakes at Notre Dame.