Imaging Sciences Faculty and Staff

Karla Calumet has earned a Master of Health Administration in Health Administration from St. Joseph’s College and a PhD in Health Psychology from Walden University . In addition, she completed the basic sciences in the MD curriculum at St. Matthew’s University. Calumet currently teaches Health Law and Ethics in the Department of Radiologic Sciences. Calumet has served as an administrator in healthcare, a project director in the construction of healthcare facilities and as an educator in the Master of Public Health program for both the University of Roehampton and the University of Liverpool in the UK. Calumet’s doctoral dissertation was on, “Breast Cancer, Mana’olana/Hope and the Experience of Native Hawaiian Women.” Calumet has presented at the University of California, Berkeley and Sorbonne University on this research. Calumet has recently authored a book entitled, “Hope Matters! Positive Health in Breast Cancer & Beyond!” She continues to speak on hope and our health outcomes. Calumet hired a radio program focusing on health for several years. Calumet is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Patient Experience and the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. She continues to be active in her community in organizations such as Rotary and her church.

Katie Ely has earned a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology with a Health Emphasis and a Master of Educational Technology from Boise State University. Ely was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, and graduated from Boise State in December of 2012. After graduation, she became a critique instructor for Boise State for several years while pursuing her master’s degree in educational technology and working in a major hospital in Boise. In 2015, Ely began teaching as an adjunct faculty for Boise State while simultaneously starting a travel assignment as an X-ray technologist in Maui, Hawaii, at the only hospital on the island. Her travels then took her to a major transplant hospital in New Orleans for a brief stint before returning to Maui. Currently, she manages three urgent care clinics on Maui and a physical therapy clinic while teaching online courses. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, paddling with a competitive canoe club, hiking into waterfalls and living in paradise.

Patrick Guzzle has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, a Master of Public Health and a Master of Arts in Anthropology from Idaho State University. Guzzle is the vice president of food science for the National Restaurant Association. He has been involved in retail food safety for almost 20 years after his wife, Dianne, contracted E. coli O157:H7. His career in food safety began as an environmental health specialist in Southeastern Idaho Public Health District (Pocatello, Idaho). He later became the environmental health supervisor and was involved in all aspects of environmental health. In 2004, Guzzle was hired as the Idaho Food Protection program manager with the State’s Division of Public Health. During that time, he served as president of the Idaho Environmental Health Association. In 2018, Guzzle started Mountain West Food Safety, LLC and was the principal consultant. In addition to helping several clients strengthen their own food safety efforts, Guzzle regularly taught ServSafe® courses throughout Idaho and eastern Oregon. Guzzle has been an active participant in the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) and has served on several committees, as well as Chairing Council II within the CFP.  He served as chair of the CFP from 2016 – 2018. He has received several commendations for his collaborative efforts with other organizations over the years.  

Guzzle is an active member of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, the National Environmental Health Association and the Western Association of Food and Drug Officials. He is an adjunct professor of Public Health at Boise State University. Guzzle and his wife, Dianne both grew up in Colorado – she in Littleton and he in Steamboat Springs.  They have four children and reside in Boise, Idaho.

Gundars (Gundy) Kaupins has earned his PhD in human resource management from the University of Iowa and has SHRM-CP and SPHR certifications in human resource management. He is a professor of management and former management department chair at Boise State University. His research includes about 80 journal articles in job evaluation, training and development, Baltic studies and human resource ethics in journals such as the Academy of Management Perspectives and the International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction. He has also worked on some books including “Design Thinking and Strategy,” “Business Aha! Tips on Ethics for Managers” and “Business Aha! Tips on Creativity.” His HR-related experience includes working as a human resource specialist at Norand Corporation, professional consultant and co-writer of about 700 employee handbooks.

David (Dave) LaGuardia earned his Bachelor of Science in Imaging Sciences from Boise State University in 2019 and his Associate of Applied Science in Radiologic Technology from Red Rocks Community College in Arvada, Colorado in 2009. LaGuardia has 12 years of clinical experience as a diagnostic radiologic technologist which spans Denver and the Pacific Northwest, where he currently works in the role of labor partner with Kaiser Permanente.  He has taught new techs and worked with student technologists from Day 1 of his experience as a registered technologist and he possesses a true affinity for teaching and sharing knowledge he has gained over the years. LaGuardia has a growing family and possesses a deep passion for music, art and delicious food.  He also considers his role at Boise State to be a deep honor and something he is very proud to be a part of.

Joanna McCormack has earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Memphis, a Master of Science in Clinical Microbiology from the University of Helsinki, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, a Master of Science in Health Science with a Health Policy emphasis and a Certificate in Health Services Leadership from Boise State University. McCormack is a lecturer in public health and population science. Before teaching, she worked in large population-based registry research in Europe (EURO-PERISTAT II & Finland’s Drug and Pregnancy Group), running analyses of data from various sources (25 countries & five registries within the same country). Most recently, she worked in small local medical practices, where she provided health policy consultation and auditing. McCormack teaches Epidemiology, Data Analytics and Introduction to Health Informatics.

Natalie Mourant Hodges has earned a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences and a Master of Health Science in Service Leadership from Boise State University. Mourant Hodges has worked in several areas of interventional radiology, including the specials lab, the endovascular lab, the cardiovascular operating room and the cardiac catheterization lab. She has served as lead cardiovascular professional and the structural heart team lead. She holds credentials in general radiology and cardiac-interventional and vascular-interventional. She teaches IT in Radiology, Interdisciplinary Patient Care Skills, Radiology Positioning, Health Promotion and Leadership, Research and Professionalism, Preventative Care and Patient Advocacy in Imaging Sciences and Interprofessional Capstone.

Ilisha Newhouse has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Arizona State University, a graduate certificate in Economic Pedagogy from the University of Colorado, a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and a PhD in business ethics from American University. Newhouse has owned and operated a market research agency specializing in qualitative research for over 24 years. Newhouse also owns a non-profit agency that brings financial literacy education to depressed communities. Newhouse brings a wealth of experience from the public and private sector to the classroom and has instructed post secondary educational courses for over 20 years. She has served as a department chair and academic officer. Newhouse teaches Innovation and Change Management, Introduction to Management, Human Resources Management and Healthcare.

Kristi Poxleitner returned to Boise State University as a faculty member in the radiologic sciences program after earning her Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences with an emphasis in General Studies in 2013 and a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences with an emphasis in Computed Tomography in 2016. Poxleitner also taught the radiology courses for North Idaho College in 2017-2018 as an intermittent professor. Poxleitner has many hours of clinical experience working for two hospitals in the Boise area specializing in trauma and stroke patients. She is currently working at two critical access hospitals in Idaho that focus on acute care. Working full time in the field of radiology allows her to stay current with exams and procedures. It also gives her a deep understanding of the online students’ world because she is going through similar situations as the student in day to day life. Aside from Boise State, Poxleitner is an active city council member and mother of two children. Poxleitner and her family enjoy all outdoor activities and sports.

Omair Shamim has earned a Master of Kinesiology and a Master of Health Sciences from Boise State University, and a Doctor of Medicine from Dow University of Health Sciences. Shamim has been teaching at Boise State since 2014. He has taught Pathophysiology both face to face and online at Boise State. Dr. Shamim currently teaches online Pathophysiology, Research Methods, Health Services Administration and Introduction to Public Health for the Department of Health Sciences and the Department of Radiologic Sciences. He has also taught Medical Terminology and Global Health at the College of Western Idaho. Before moving to the United States, Dr. Shamim was a vascular surgeon and ER doctor at the busiest hospital in Pakistan where he successfully treated hundreds of gunshot and motor vehicle accident cases.

Rachael graduated in 2012 from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Radiologic Sciences with an emphasis in Magnetic Resonance Imaging.  While still in school, Rachael began working for St. Luke’s Health System working primarily in MRI, specializing in 3T exams and developing the advanced neuro imaging techniques currently used by the system.  Rachael began teaching Cross Sectional Anatomy at Boise State in 2018.