Instructor Bios

Courtney Smith has a B.A. in Business Administration (Management), and has been an Emergency Medical Technician since 1997. She has an extensive medical background with experience derived from in-field practice, schooling and education. She has also performed rush transcription of autopsy reports for the El Paso County (Colorado) Coroner's office, editing and transcription of coroner investigator field reports, in-field Emergency Medical Technician reports for local ambulance services, and legal office transcription. She owns multiple pets and has extensive knowledge of cats and dogs from personal experience, three years in an undergraduate pre-veterinary baccalaureate program, and through interaction with veterinarians. Co-instructor Deborah R. Smith, M.T.(A.S.C.P.), Ph.D. is a medical technologist, registered with the American Society of Clinical Pathologists – M.T.(A.S.C.P.). She earned a B.S. in Medical Technology from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Biophysical) and Microbiology/Molecular Genetics from Rutgers University. In addition to her hospital laboratory work as a Medical Technologist, Dr. Smith has been a Physiology recitation instructor for first year medical students at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and instructed University of Iowa medical students in clinical microbiology. She has been an Adjunct Professor of Biology and Chemistry at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where she taught Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Cell Biology to Undergraduate and Graduate students. Dr. Smith served as Teller County (Colorado) Coroner from 1999 to 2003, is a Certified Death Investigator, and a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (Pathology Section). She has served as Medical Editor for Colorado Springs Health Magazine and Colorado Health Magazine. She is also a life member of American Mensa and serves on the Mensa Education and Research Foundation Awards for Excellence in Research Committee. She is the author of several scientific publications and a Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Manual. Co-instructor Geoff Caquelin has degrees in both Business Administration and Mortuary Science. He has worked as an El Paso County (Colorado) Deputy Coroner, a forensic death investigator, mortuary diener, funeral director, and insurance claims adjustor. He has extensive knowledge of dogs and horses from his experiences as a breeder of Dachshunds and an owner of horses. He has held summer jobs landscaping gardens that included building garden ponds, gazebos, and other landscaping structures. He has extensive computer and photography skills. The instructors can be reached at the following email addresses: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]