Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff!

Randal Anderson, MD

Assistant Professor of Radiology, Office of SIMS, RVU-SU

Not exactly an Iowa native, but living there with his family for 20 years has made Dr. Anderson near enough. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Brigham Young University, a Doctor of Medicine degree from University of Iowa College of Medicine, with a Diagnostic Radiology Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and a Nuclear Radiology Fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He enjoys (maybe even a little too much) trying to solve complex mental puzzles, which is why he was drawn to radiology as a field.

Dr. Anderson has 16 years as a practicing radiologist, including experience with teleradiology and radiology in both the academic and private practice arenas. He also served as a staff radiologist for Veterans Affairs. It was an easy decision to join the RVU family, as Dr. Anderson "loves working in a collaborative environment where the knowledge and talents of many people in a variety of roles synergistically combine to yield meaningful outcomes."

Moving from the Midwest, Dr. Anderson brought along his wife and children. Interestingly, one of his sons is adopted from Seoul, South Korea while his adopted daughter has Maori and Samoan blood ("[we] look forward to meeting her relatives at a family reunion in the South Pacific"). His oldest two children are adopted from the Midwest. The Anderson family enjoys outdoor activities like kayaking and off-roading, as well as the simpler ones like neighborhood walks and mountain hikes. He also has an incredible "fish story": as a child, he went fishing with just a twig, string, and a Dorito chip and managed to catch a small catfish!

Annyeonghaseyo, Dr. Anderson!

Brooks W. Beal, DO, MS

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Primary Care, RVU-SU; Veterans Home Provider at Southern Utah Veterans Home

Dr. Beal grew up in Northern California. He attended Utah Valley University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and meeting his future wife. During this time, he also organized medical missions to Guatemala. Later, he received a Master of Science degree in Medical Health Science, followed by his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a family medicine residency as Chief Resident at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Missouri. Dr. Beal has always loved teaching and, as a resident, he started an academic track. He also became a ACLS instructor for the school and trained the second-year medical students.

Following graduation, he joined the faculty at A.T. Still University as Assistant Professor and core faculty at the Family Medicine Residency Program. Eventually, he and his wife decided to move to Southern Utah to be closer to family and to continue his passion for teaching and clinical medicine. He believed that his goals and ambitions as a physician matched with RVU and is excited to be part of "this amazing school." Dr. Beal enjoys fishing, hunting, sports, traveling, and spending time with his wife and four children.

Welcome, Dr. Beal!

Thomas H. Bigham, DO, MA

Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Dept. of Primary Care, RVU-SU

Coming from a farming family, Dr. Bigham graduated first from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree, then taught undergraduate biology. Dr. Bigham then attended University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine as a National Health Service Corp. scholarship recipient, receiving a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. He graduated as Chief Resident from the University of Utah Family Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Bigham practiced in rural Arizona, where he received training and experience as a rural medical examiner. For three weeks, he also staffed a bare-bones clinic down in the Grand Canyon, where he visited with the Havasupai tribe and experienced the breathtaking waterfalls.

Dr. Bigham enjoys spending time with his wife, five children, and two grandchildren. Reading biographies, restoring and maintaining vintage cars and dabbling in HAM radios are some of his more favored hobbies. He is excited to be back in a formal teaching and learning environment and enjoys the enthusiasm and company of his colleagues here at RUV. One of his more embarrassing moments was getting a warning flag thrown on him at a high school football game...as the team physician.

Welcome, Dr. Bigham!

Michele (Mischa) Coleman, DO

Assistant Professor of OPP, Dept. of OPP, RVU-SU

Dr. Coleman joins us with a Bachelor of Science in Math/Computer Science from University of California Los Angeles. For a time, she worked as a massage therapist. At the age of 42, she enrolled at Kansas City University, receiving her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. She completed residency, a hospitalist/geriatric fellowship, and a Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (NMM+1) fellowship in New York.

Originally from Florida where her father was a rocket engineer, Dr. Coleman had moved to Washington following her fellowships. At Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Dr. Coleman had a combination position of interim Department Chair and Assistant Professor of OPP, all while also having her own private practice.

It seems there are few places Dr. Coleman hasn’t been: 49 of 50 states (sorry, North Dakota!), Mexico, Canada, Australia (the Great Barrier Reef was a favorite destination), New Zealand, Belgium, and the Netherlands. She enjoys taking photos and hiking the national parks, with a toss-up between Yellowstone and Olympic being her all-time favorites (though Zion and Bryce are also high on that list). She also has a talent for tatting lace and creating bobbin lace. Now here at RVU, Dr. Coleman looks forward to becoming part of the family and having lots of adventures.

Welkom, Dr. Coleman!

Elizabeth (Liz) Dahlberg

Clinical Education Liaison, Dept. of Clinical Education, RVU-SU

Liz has a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Studies with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration from Dixie State University. She has been in the healthcare field for five years: she was a private scrub for the Orthopedic Trauma Team at Dixie Regional Medical Center and has also worked at Intermountain LDS Hospital and the Ogden Clinic in sports medicine and hand and upper extremity surgery.

Remembering her first time in an operating room as an orderly, Liz had watched a laparoscopic appendectomy and thought how it was the most amazing thing she’d ever seen. It had empowered her and inspired a wonder of medicine and the power to heal others. With her position with RVU, Liz wants to "find meaningful rotations for students so that they can feel empowered in their education and careers."

She is from Arizona but moved to Southern Utah with her family and, even though they have since moved away, she now resides in Northern Utah. With too many hobbies to choose from, Liz does enjoy a handful of outdoor activities such as skiing, wakeboarding and hiking, which explains her "almost religious experience" at the Redwood National Park. When Liz is not out on the greens holding a nine-iron, she can be found with a controller in her hands, playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare or Apex Legends.

Welcome, Liz!

Garth Gillespie

Administrative Assistant to Biomedical Sciences and Medical Humanities, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, RVU-SU

Garth comes to us from Chicago, having escaped the Windy City for the easier winters of Southern Utah. Before arriving at RVU, he was at Apple. For over a decade, he was a Direct Dispatch Admin.

Rising Sun—Japan. When not busy with work, he enjoys gardening and learning about the native plants of Utah, as well as photography and trying new foods and restaurants.

Now a part of the RVU family, Garth is excited for the diverse culture. With his new position, it inspires him to connect with the students, faculty, and staff.

Kon’nichiwa, Garth!

Caitlin Hotzel

Library Assistant, Department of Library Services, RVU-CO

Like many others, Caitlin was drawn to the west by the mountains and promise of copious sunshine. Before coming to Colorado, Caitlin grew up in a small college town in Kansas, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in English (with a minor in Entrepreneurship) from the University of Kansas, then relocated to London to attend culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Library Science from Emporia State University.

As a professional chef for many years, Caitlin worked in nearly every type of restaurant setting, from the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art to traditional fine dining. Prior to her time spent cooking professionally, she worked for the University of Kansas library system, logged time in public libraries, and worked in constituent services for the U.S. House of Representatives.

What has stood out to her at RVU is how passionate everyone is about what they are doing: "It’s not hard to feel inspired in your own pursuits." Caitlin herself is passionate about lifelong learning and ease of access to information is a vital component of that. "Working in libraries allows me to combine my interests and skills to serve the community in a unique way."

When she’s not at work, Caitlin is hiking in nature, hunting for Denver’s best taqueria, experimenting with propagating house plants, or binge-listening to true-crime podcasts. Though she’s been fortunate to travel pretty extensively (26 countries and counting!), if she had to pick her favorite trip, it would be to the western coast of Norway.

Velkommen, Caitlin!

Kristen Hunter

Clinical Rotations Coordinator, Physician Assistant Program, RVU-CO

A Colorado native (thank you, Swedish Medical Center!), Kristen has completed several general education courses through Arapahoe Community College, with a certification in Medical Transcription.

Kristen has a total of 20 years of experience in administrative/management in healthcare operations. Prior to RVU, she was a Medical Staff Credentialer for Centura Health and HCA Corp. With this knowledge, Kristen likes that she can be a resource for students when they need someone and is able to watch them grow through their educational experience.

Kristen came to RVU because of the school's great reputation in the community. "People are friendly and I can see that education is important to the staff, as well as the students." She also thinks it’s a great environment with supportive connections to help students succeed. When you see her around, ask Kristen about her time spent living in Germany.

Guten tag, Kristen!

Kyle LaValley, MBA

Director of the Center for Medical Education Excellence (CMEE)

Kyle returns to RVU after working for DaVita for the past year and a half. During his time at DaVita, Kyle was the Senior Analyst for Clinical Operations where he facilitated several pilots testing the integration of value-based healthcare into dialysis clinics. Prior to leaving RVU, Kyle was the Administrator for Rocky Mountain OPTI where he supported affiliated residency programs in numerous ways. In his new role as the Director of RVU’s Center for Medical Education Excellence (formerly Rocky Mountain OPTI), he will continue working to connect resources at RVU with residency training programs, while also focusing on new program development in the Mountain West region.

Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kyle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration degree from Colorado State University - Pueblo. He previously worked in graduate medical education at Parkview Medical Center. Outside of work Kyle loves spending time with family, cooking, playing golf and learning to play guitar.

We're so happy to have you back, Kyle!

Kären Robinson, MS, LPC

Mental Health and Wellness Counselor, Dept. of Student Affairs, RVU-CO

This Mississippi State University alumna (go Dawgs!) received a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Christian Brothers University. Originally from Tennessee, she only recently moved to Colorado and is enjoying the climate and the people.

Kären (that's pronounced "car-in") has several years of experience in various higher education positions, including as a mental health counselor at her alma mater. She also has experience with inpatient co-occurring disorders alcohol and drug treatment. She considers it "an honor to walk alongside and hold space for those I help, even when the path is difficult." Now being at RVU, Kären is excited to get to know the students and support them on their path to becoming medical professionals. "It is so important that helpers incorporate self-care and healthy psychological skills into their lives and practice."

Cliché or not, Kären loves Paris and how magical walking the streets can be. When not helping take care of others, she enjoys spending time with her spouse and their dog Arya. They go on walks, watch movies, and play board games together. And next Christmas Day, don’t forget to wish Kären a Happy Birthday!

Bonjour, Kären!

Daneka Souberbielle, MS

Academic and Career Advisor, Dept. of Student Affairs, RVU-SU

Daneka is originally from Michigan. About fifteen years ago, she planned a visit to St. George and never left! She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Sociology from Brigham Young University.

She has spent most of her career working on increasing access to higher education for first-generation, low-income and/or minority students. Her previous position was Associate Dean of Student Inclusion, where she oversaw programming and services for international, LGBTQ+, veteran, and female students. She earned a Commitment to Diversity award, as well as a Community Engaged Staff Member award.

Daneka is excited to be part of RVU: "I believe [it's] a unique place where rigor, service, innovation, and leadership meet and I hope to be able to add to that! [Advising] provides the opportunity for direct service to the students...helping the students identify goals and make plans. Ultimately, watching them reach their goals and transform into professionals is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had!"

A favorite place Daneka has visited was an ancient ruin in Tamtoc, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. "It was a brand-new dig site in the middle of lush jungle and it was fascinating to see the discoveries the archaeologists were uncovering." When she’s not at work Daneka enjoys the art of doing nothing. She also enjoys teaching English to new immigrants.

Welcome, Daneka!

R. Levi Sundermeyer, PhD

Program Director, HealthOne/Sky Ridge Family Medicine Residency, RVU-CO

Dr. Sundermeyer attended medical school at the University of Kansas, then residency at St. Louis University Belleville Family Medicine Residency, followed by an Obstetric Fellowship at Family Medicine Spokane.

He trained with the Air Force and was on active duty for 10 years. Since then, Dr. Sundermeyer has been a flight surgeon with an F-16 squadron in Fort Worth in the Air Force Reserves for the past eight years. He was attracted to RVU because of the high priority placed on primary care, especially family medicine and training in point-of-care ultrasound.

Married for 23 years to his wife Marlise, they have four children who he loves spending time with. When not working, Dr. Sundermeyer enjoys playing board games, camping, and sports (home run for baseball!) with his family.

Welcome, Dr. Sundermeyer!

Cole Zanetti, DO, MPH

Co-Director of the Digital Health Track; Dept. of Tracks and Special Programs, RVU-CO

Dr. Zanetti grew up in the small town of Otisville, New York. He earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the University of North Texas Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and a Master of Public Health degree from Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy and Clinical Practice. He trained at New Hampshire Dartmouth Family Medicine residency and in Leadership Preventive Medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

Dr. Zanetti has worked with many organizations, such as the American Association of Family Medicine, Iora Primary Care, Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science, and New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to develop healthcare-based systems or solve complex problems.

Dr. Zanetti currently serves as Primary Care Section Chief for Veteran Affairs of Eastern Colorado and as a facilitator for the Positive Deviance Initiative. He is very excited to be a part of RVU: "Healthcare is changing rapidly with new expectations to utilize technology and software to help others. Artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, remote monitoring, telemedicine, and the ethics of these pursuits are critical for how medicine will be practiced in the future." On cofounding the Digital Health Track, he says, "I'm very excited to be a part of the first effort in the country to enable [medical students] to be change-makers moving forward."

Dr. Zanetti recently received the James M. Lally, DO, Emerging Leader Award from the American Osteopathic Foundation. He also received the Primary Care Innovation Award from American College of Physicians

In his free time, Dr. Zanetti enjoys traveling (Hanoi, Vietnam and Rovinj, Croatia are among his favorite locations), hiking, playing basketball and baseball, reading non-fiction, spending time with friends and family, and occasionally binge-watching Netflix. Interestingly, Dr. Zanetti is terrified of heights—"I can't even ride a Ferris wheel without freaking out"—but rock-climbs weekly and has even gone skydiving.

Welcome, Dr. Zanetti!