About our authors Dr. Erin Amerman is a textbook author and professor in the field of human anatomy and physiology. She received her first textbook publishing contract in 2003, at age 25, with Morton Publishing Company. Two years later, she signed a second textbook contract with Pearson. To date, she has authored six textbooks, which have helped students learn across the country and internationally. She has also authored, produced, and narrated a variety of media products.
Dr. Amerman received a B.S. in cellular and molecular biology from the University of West Florida and a doctorate in podiatric medicine from Des Moines University. She is deeply committed to helping her students succeed in their A&P courses, aiming to generate curiosity and excitement about the material and its application in their future health careers. A long-time member of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS), she enjoys attending the annual HAPS conferences, especially when they are in locations that have ample hiking opportunities and many different species of snake.
In 2016, Dr. Amerman founded Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary (CCFS), a 415-acre refuge for farmed animals saved from abuse, neglect, and imminent slaughter. In a mere three years, CCFS grew to become the largest bovine sanctuary in the United States. Dr. Amerman and CCFS have been featured by The Dodo, Access Hollywood, Ivanhoe Broadcasting, NPR, I Heart Radio, the Associated Press, local media, and more, which has garnered them over 130,000 followers from around the world. Dr. Amerman is known on social media for the stories she weaves to describe the animals and life on the sanctuary. Known for her creative use of language, she has coined several notwords, including notcows and moopeople.
About our media author Virginia Irintcheva is the author of the Big Picture animations and interactive figures and assessments in Mastering A&P®. She also served as an editorial advisor and reviewer of key concepts in this book. She is a biology professor at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada. She has been teaching courses in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and biology for over 18 years. Virginia was born and raised in Bulgaria. She earned a B.S. in biology and Spanish from St. Louis University, under whose auspices she studied in Madrid, Spain, as well as in Missouri. She received her Ph.D. in pharmacological and physiological sciences in 2006 from that school. Her primary research interests were in cell signaling and, specifically, the effects of the coagulation protein thrombin and the family of Ras proteins on cell growth and proliferation. As a teacher, Virginias fundamental goal is to create an environment of effective communication by promoting mutual respect and successful learning. She strives to teach her students not only what to learn but also how to learn and why they are learning.
Outside the classroom, Virginia likes to travel, visit family in Europe, snowboard, hike with her dog, spoil her cat, and ride her horse.
