Kyle Bills, DC, PhD
Associate Dean of ResearchDr. Bills is a researcher, clinician, inventor, and published author. He holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University in Provo and a D.C. from Parker University in Dallas. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Brigham Young University, funded by the NCCIH division of the National Instituted of Health and an internship at the Dallas VA Medical Center. His clinical and research work focus on chronic migraine, traumatic brain injury, opioid-use disorder, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Bills is certified in manipulation under anesthesia, is an Industrial Disability Evaluator, a Qualified Medical Evaluator, and has served as a subject matter expert for both the State of California and Utah in Physical Medicine and Chiropractic. Dr. Bills works regularly as an expert witness in legal cases involving neurotrauma. Dr. Bills holds affiliate and adjunct faculty appointments in the Department of Psychology at BYU, Clinical Neuroscience at Parker University, Neuroscience in the College of Medicine at Roseman University, and Research at Rocky Mountain University. He has taught and developed courses in physiology, neuroanatomy, neurobiology, neurology, sensorimotor integration, and manual medicine.
Lynsey Drew, DO, FAAFP, MBA
Dean and Chief Academic OfficerDr. Drew was appointed Dean and Chief Academic Officer in August 2024 after serving as Acting Dean at Noorda-COM. Previously, she served as Assistant Dean for Clinical Education. A graduate of Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California and a family medicine physician, Dr. Drew is a native Utahn. She completed a Faculty Development Fellowship and previously served as residency program faculty for the Family Practice residency at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. Dr. Drew has been a member of the Osteopathic Medicine Board for the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing for eight years. She currently serves as President Elect for the Utah Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors.
Casey Himmelsbach, MBA, MSML
Associate Dean of Student AffairsDean Himmelsbach grew up in a small, rural town in Southwest Missouri and has over 15 years of experience in supporting student success. Her previous experience working with students interested in healthcare careers from a wide variety of backgrounds and her passion for helping every student achieve their own personal goals are what led her to Noorda-COM’s unique environment to provide the best platform for supporting medical students through every step of their medical education journey. She enjoys bringing creative solutions to Student Affairs in a rapidly changing undergraduate medical education environment.
John A. Kriak, PharmD
Assistant Dean of Research & Professor of Pharmacology
Alexa Levine, PsyD, MBA, MA
Assistant Dean of Institutional EffectivenessDr. Levine grew up in San Diego, California and brings over ten years of experience in higher education. She completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Solar and Renewable Energy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Levine holds a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, a Doctor of Psychology in Human and Organizational Psychology, and an MBA with a focus in Accounting and Health Administration Management. She currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Institutional Effectiveness and previously held the role of Executive Director at Noorda-COM. Prior to that, she worked at Touro University in Henderson, Nevada, supporting the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Leslie Manley, PhD
Assistant Dean of AssessmentDr. Leslie Manley joined Noorda-COM as Director of Assessment and Professor of Neurosciences. Dr. Manley received her BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from UCSD School of Medicine. She has also received a Senior Leadership Development Program certificate from Columbia Business School. She developed her passion for teaching undergraduate medical students and neuroscience graduate students while at UCSD. Prior to joining Noorda-COM, Dr. Manley was the Executive Director of Assessments at Kaplan Medical where she led teams of dozens of physicians and PhDs to create world-class licensure exam practice items and review materials. She was an author of the first ever online Qbank and a variety of published medical boards preparation books. She has extensive knowledge of assessment and medical content development and is excited to take this experience to a new medical school.
Amie Mower, DO, MHA, FAAFP
Chair of Clinical SciencesDr. Amie Mower is a family medicine physician and educator who serves as Chair of Clinical Sciences at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kansas City University in 2012 and completed her family medicine residency through the Army at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in 2015. Following seven years on active duty as an Army physician, Dr. Mower began working in a rural health system in the Pacific Northwest, where she served as a primary care physician and later held leadership roles including Medical Director of Integrated Behavioral Health and Chief Wellness Officer. In 2022 she earned an Executive Master of Health Administration from Cornell University. She joined Noorda-COM in 2024 as Clinical Sciences faculty and began working closely with Noorda’s military students in her role as Director of Military Medicine. Dr. Mower is passionate about using her clinical and leadership experience to prepare the next generation of physicians to meet the evolving needs of today’s healthcare landscape, with a focus on integrated care, physician wellness, and mentoring students pursuing military medicine.
Nathan Nakken, DO
Chair of Osteopathic Principles & PracticesDr. Nathan Nakken is a native of Utah and has held adjunct faculty teaching positions at Utah Valley University teaching physiology and Salt Lake Community College teaching biology. Dr. Nakken also taught physiology during his master’s degree at Brigham Young University where he received a Master of Science in Physiology and Developmental Biology, and a bachelor’s degree in Chinese. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University in Parker, CO, and was chosen for the prestigious Harold Ives Magoun Jr. DO, FAAO, FCA Memorial Undergraduate Osteopathic Principles & Practices (OPP) Teaching Fellowship where he taught lectures and OPP labs at Rocky Vista University as a student. Following medical school, he completed residency training in Family Medicine at Blessing Hospital and Southern Illinois University Center for Family Medicine in Quincy, IL. He completed a second residency in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine at Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine where he joined the OPP faculty, and helped teach and design curriculum in both OPP and clinical medicine. Dr. Nakken has a passion for teaching, creating new ways for students to learn, and loves the “ah hah” moment when new understanding clicks for a student.
Steve Prinster, PhD
Associate Dean of Academic AffairsSteven Prinster, Ph.D., earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Brigham Young University in 1997 and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Emory University and in 2006 joined the faculty at the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In 2009 he began teaching pharmacology to students in the Medical and Physician Assistant Studies Programs at Touro University, Nevada. In 2014, his passion for student education and success led to his appointment as the Program Director for the Medical Health Sciences Program, managing the admission and progression of the students in the program.
Michael Rhodes, MD
Associate Dean of Graduate Medical EducationDr. Michael Rhodes brings over 25 years of medical education experience to his role as Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Georgia, his MD from the Medical College of Georgia, and completed his residency in Family Medicine in Rome GA. Dr. Rhodes practiced Family Medicine with Intermountain Healthcare in Layton UT before moving to Provo in 1998. He served as faculty and then the Residency Program Director at Utah Valley Hospital for 17 years. He subsequently served as the Associate Medical Director for Utah Valley, Orem Community and American Fork Hospitals. He has completed the National Institute for Program Director Development course and Leadership Development courses for Health Care Executives from both the University of Utah, David Eccles School of Business and the Center for Domestic Preparedness, FEMA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In 2009 Dr. Rhodes was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, and in 2016 was recognized as the Doctor of the Year for the State of Utah.
Tyler Smith DO, MS
Chair of Community Clinical Faculty and Co-Director of the Emergency Medicine ClerkshipDr. Tyler Smith is a board-certified emergency medicine physician with a strong commitment to clinical education, physician leadership, and mentorship. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Utah, followed by a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from A.T. Still University–Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Smith completed his emergency medicine residency at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where he served as Chief Resident. After residency, he practiced emergency medicine in Northern California before returning to his home state of Utah, where he continues to practice clinically.
His passion for medical education developed through bedside teaching and clinical education while working with medical students and residents in the emergency department. This commitment to education led him to Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he initially served as a Co-Director of the Emergency Medicine Clerkship. Currently, he continues in this role as well as Chair of Community Clinical Faculty.
Throughout his career, Dr. Smith has held a variety of leadership roles within both hospital and community settings, including Emergency Department Chief and Medical Director, member of the Hospital Medical Executive Committee, and local EMS Medical Director. He has also contributed to numerous hospital committees and initiatives focused on clinical operations, quality, and physician leadership.
Dr. Smith is passionate about developing the next generation of physicians through meaningful clinical education, mentorship, and leadership. He is particularly committed to supporting students and residents while also mentoring clinical faculty as they pursue opportunities to strengthen their teaching and contribute to the education of future physicians.
Kevin Steed, PhD
Chair of Biomedical SciencesDr. Kevin Steed grew up in the small town of Placerville, California in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Brigham Young University, he found his passion for teaching by developing a service-learning program called Anatomy Academy, which is still run through BYU Y-Serve. This led to completion of a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University while also teaching as an adjunct professor of anatomy and physiology at Provo College, and Utah Valley University, respectively. His dissertation topic connected Alzheimer’s disease with dietary and metabolic contributions, namely, those surrounding diabetes and iron regulation. Dr. Steed entered the osteopathic world as a Founding Faculty at California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he taught anatomy and neuroscience. It was here that he developed novel applications of holographic technology in anatomy education and applied active learning techniques like the flipped-classroom, and team-based Learning. He moved back to Utah to join the Noorda-COM team as an Assistant professor of Anatomy and Neuroscience and has recently become the Chair of the Biomedical Sciences Department. His approach to medical education is enhanced by his enthusiasm for the material, ability to intermingle humor into the learning, and desire to help students discover their own passions in medicine.
Christina Twelves, MPA
Assistant Dean for Financial Aid and ComplianceChristina Twelves serves as Noorda-COM’s Assistant Dean for Financial Aid and Compliance after previously serving as Director of Financial Aid. Ms. Twelves arrived at Noorda-COM with over 25 years working within higher education at major universities including the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada State College, Westminster College, and Touro University Nevada, as well as the U.S. Department of Education. Ms. Twelves is passionate and committed to assisting students with attaining their dreams. Her philosophy is that quality student service provides students with the opportunity to focus on their education, not worrying about the financial aid process.
Andrew Yorgason, DO, MPH, MHPE
Associate Dean of Clinical AffairsDr. Andy Yorgason is a physician and an educator who has dedicated his career to medical education and public health and safety with a focus in occupational and environmental medicine. Teaching is a passion—he was awarded a Master’s of Health Professions Education degree alongside his medical studies. He has enjoyed teaching medical students and other health professions students and residents at Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona, Otago University in New Zealand and West Virginia University. In addition to student teaching, he now uses his experience to train clinical faculty members in his current position. He finds particular joy in helping others discover the ability to decipher truth from data and tell a story that will change someone else’s health for the better. He is the founding medical consultant at Milchad Occupational Medicine Consulting, LLC. He was residency-trained in occupational medicine at West Virginia University. He has been a guest researcher at NIOSH, a medical expert for workers’ compensation insurers, a clinical chair overseeing dozens of other occupational health providers, and maintains his boots-on-the-ground approach by consulting and, when he gets the chance, working on-site for employers in the nuclear power, biotech, manufacturing, and distribution industries.
He loves Noorda—the students, the faculty, the curricular model, and the commitment to leading the way forward in medical education for our future physicians.
