Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, 8th Edition

About the Author

Jason LaPres

Jason LaPres received his Master's of Health Science degree with an emphasis in Anatomy and Physiology from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Over the past 15 years, Jason has had the good fortune to be associated with a number of colleagues who have mentored him, helped increase his skills, and trusted him with the responsibility of teaching students who will be caring for others. Jason began his career in Michigan, where from 2001 to 2003 he taught as an adjunct at Henry Ford Community College, Schoolcraft College, and Wayne County Community College, all in the Detroit area. Additionally, at that time he taught high school chemistry and physics at Detroit Charter High School. Jason is currently Dean of Instruction and Professor of Biology at Lone Star College-CyFair in Houston, Texas. He has been with LSC since 2003. In his capacity with LSC he has served as Faculty Senate President for two of the six LSC campuses. His academic background is diverse and, although his primary teaching load is in the Human Anatomy and Physiology program, he has also taught classes in Pathophysiology and mentored several Honor Projects. Prior to authoring this textbook, Jason produced dozens of textbook supplements and online resources for many other Anatomy and Physiology textbooks.

Beth Ann Kersten

Beth Ann Kersten is a tenured professor at the State College of Florida (SCF). Though her primary teaching responsibilities are currently focused on Anatomy and Physiology I and II, she has experience teaching comparative anatomy, histology, developmental biology, and nonmajor human biology. She authors a custom A&P I laboratory manual for SCF and sponsors a book scholarship for students enrolled in health science programs. She coordinates a peer tutoring program for A&P and is working to extend  SCF's STEM initiative  to local elementary schools. Beth employs a learning strength  specific approach  to guide students in the development of study  skills focused on their learning strengths,  in addition to improving other  student skills such as time management  and note taking. Beth graduated  with  a PhD from Temple University where  her research focused on neurodevelopment in zebrafish. Her postdoctoral research at the Wadsworth Research Center focused on the response of rat nerve tissue to the implantation of neural prosthetic  devices. At Saint Vincent  College, she supervised  senior research projects on subjects  such as the effects of retinoic  acid on heart development in zebrafish and the ability of vitamin Bl2  supplements to regulate PMS symptoms  in ovariectomized mice. Beth also maintains a membership in the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society. Beth currently lives in North Port, Florida, with  her husband John and daughter  Melanie. As former Northerners,  they greatly enjoy the ability to swim almost year round  both in their pool and in the Gulf of Mexico.