Heather F. Smith

Dr. Heather F. Smith is a Professor of Anatomy at Midwestern University with multiple academic appointments across the College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Graduate Studies, and College of Health Sciences-Glendale. She has served as Editor-in-Chief of The Anatomical Record since 2021 and has been a faculty member at Midwestern University since 2018.

• Ph.D. from Arizona State University (2008)
• M.A. from Stony Brook University (2003)
• B.A. from Arizona State University (2001)
• A.A.S. in Mortuary Science from Arapahoe Community College (2021)
• Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Arizona College of Medicine (2008-2009)

Dr. Smith maintains a diverse research program spanning four primary focus areas. Her work in turtle fossil record morphology includes extensive fieldwork in the Uinta Basin, Utah, yielding over 800 fossil turtles from the Middle Eocene period, as well as studies of Cretaceous turtles from Texas. Her primate cranial evolution research encompasses microevolutionary modeling, ontogenetic patterning, and phylogenetic utility studies. She has conducted prolific research on the evolution and morphological variation of the cecal appendix across mammals and birds. Additionally, she investigates human anatomical variation, particularly in the brachial plexus, combining cadaveric studies with ultrasonographic evaluation of live subjects.

Analysis of Dr. Smith's recent publications (2023-2024) reveals a strong emphasis on comparative anatomy across diverse species, from African wild dogs to ancient turtles. Her work bridges paleontology, evolutionary biology, and clinical anatomy, with numerous special issues in The Anatomical Record highlighting major themes in anatomical sciences. She frequently collaborates with Dr. Jeffrey Laitman and other researchers across institutions.

Scientific Recognition:

• Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy (2023)

Dr. Smith has secured significant research funding including a Western Interior Paleontological Society grant for recovering Campanian fossil turtles from New Mexico (2023-2024) and an Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians grant for improving diagnostic imaging in captive tortoises (2023-2024). Her intramural MWU grant focuses on segmentation of tortoise microanatomy. As Editor-in-Chief of The Anatomical Record, she has overseen numerous special issues covering diverse topics from Triassic fossils to Traditional Chinese Medicine anatomy.

Dr. Smith teaches Human Anatomy & Embryology with Gross Anatomy Lab, bringing her research expertise into the classroom. Her multidisciplinary approach connects evolutionary biology with clinical applications, particularly in understanding anatomical variations with medical relevance.