Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
MFA, Creative Writing (non-fiction) 2010
Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
B.A. English (Lambda Iota Tau, magna cum laude) 2006
Paramedic Training: St. Anthony/Denver General Emergency Medical Training Institute, February, 1979 (EMT Training, Summer, 1977)
Boston University, College of Communication, Boston, Massachusetts
B.S. Journalism (magna cum laude) 1976
Bennett College, Millbrook, New York
A.A. Liberal Arts (Deans’ Citation) 1973
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Lander, Wyoming.
Winter mountaineering, Wind River Range (two weeks, Dec. 1973)
Horse-packing, Wind River Range (three weeks, June 1974)
Wilderness-EMT (four weeks, Summer 2011)
University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, Oil & Gas Certificate, 1985
Freelance writer, part- and full-time. (Nov.1979 to present)
Medical Examiner Investigator (MEI), Ionia County (MI).
(Jun.2016 to present)
Manager, Laurel Hill Trust, a family concern. (1991-present)
EMT-Firefighter, Ada (MI) Fire Department, paid on-call
(Nov.2011-Jan.2019)
Speaker/seminar leader. (Mar.1983-present)
Managing Editor: MERGInet.News, an early online EMS magazine. (Feb.2000-Jun.2003)
Paramedic, City & County of Denver Paramedic Division.
(Feb.1979-Dec.1980; Jan.1982-Sep.1982; part-time Mar.1983-Jan.1986)
Traveled for 48 weeks to 26 foreign countries. Observed EMS systems in 14 countries for a monthly column in JEMS. 1981.
Emergency Medical Technician, Physician’s Ambulance Service, Denver, CO. (Dec.1977-Jan.1979)
Emergency Dispatcher, Town of Vail Police Department (CO).
(Jul.1976-Apr.1977)
Medical/Safety Officer and K9 Flanker, Kent County Search & Rescue (MI) K9 Unit. (2013-present)
Fellow & Charter Member, National College of Emergency Medical Dispatch. (since 1990)
Adjunct Faculty, Department of English, Western Michigan University. (2007-2010)
Advisory Board: EMS Rescue Technology Magazine. (1997-2000)
Contributing Editor, EMS Insider, published by JEMS Communications. (1993-2003)
Faculty, American College of Prehospital Medicine. (1993-1998)
Adjunct faculty, Davenport College, EMS Department. (1995-1996)
Re-Write Team: National Standard Curricula for EMT-Int. and EMT-Paramedic. (1998)
EMTAC Star (EMT Association of Colorado newsletter) Associate Editor: Jun.1984-Jul.1985. Editor: Sep.1985-Apr.1987.
National Association of EMTs Program Committee. (1984-1987)
Vail Mountain Rescue Group, for search and rescue.
(1975-1977; president 1976-1977)
Board Work:
Board of Directors, Lowell Area Arts Council (2005-2007)
Wittenbach Agri-Nature Center Advisory Board (2003-2006)
Lowell Area Community Fund Advisory Committee (“Englehardt Fund,” a $17 million fund) as representative for Vergennes Township (two terms: 2000-2004)
Board of Education, Lowell Area Schools (one term: 2000-2004)
Board of Directors, The Eventing Association of Michigan (TEAM, a state-wide horse-sport association). (2000-2008)
Board of Directors, “Interchange” (a professional communicators network), Grand Rapids, MI. (1995-2001. Treasurer: 1996-1998, President, 1998-99)
Board of Directors (Honorary), Summit Huts Association, Breckenridge, CO. (since 1990)
Board of Directors, JEMS Publishing Company. (1986-1991)
Board of Directors, Temple Emanuel Preschool, Grand Rapids, MI. (1990-1991)
Other Activities
Open Space Committee for Vergennes Twp, MI, founding member. (2000-2008)
Eastern Townships Open Space Committee, a six-township initiative to keep open space a region-wide priority. (2004-2007)
Grand River Pony Club District Commissioner, to help young equestrians become well-educated horsemen. (1999-2003)
Lowell Area Schools. Volunteer: Demographics Committee (1996-2000); Facilitator, “Junior Great Books” (4 th grade Spring 1998, 6 th grade Fall 1998); Facilitator, team building for bus drivers, Winter/Spring 1998.
Facilitator, Business Writing: Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW). (Feb.1993-Summer 1999)
Kent County Literacy Council, tutor and volunteer, 1993-1997.
Advisory Board, Resources Against Violent Encounters to Women (RAVE) of West Michigan. (1993-1996)
Tae Kwon Do. Awarded 1st degree black belt. (June 1991)
Nippon Kan, Denver, CO. Chief Instructor of Aikido for Nippon Kan-Michigan Aikido, Jan.1989-Dec.1994. Awarded 3rd degree black belt, Jan.1994. Advisor: 1998-present.
Over four hundred articles, essays, blogs and columns (as of 2019), in magazines, newspapers, and websites including JEMS, Emergency, Ambulance News (New Zealand), Rescue Magazine, EMS Magazine, EMS World, On Scene (Canada), Rescue-EMS Magazine, Working Woman, Executive Female, Ozark, Aikido Today Magazine, Metropolitan Woman, EMS Rescue Technology, Equine Times, Advance Newspapers, Lowell Ledger, Grand Rapids’ On The Town, Grand Rapids Magazine, Grand Rapids Family, Grand Gardens, The Chronicle of the Horse, The Journal of
Emergency Dispatch and others.
Website publications at MERGInet News and also USEA.org (US Eventing). Also video scripts for Emergency Medical Update, an EMS video magazine. Blogs have appeared in my own website under “Generally Write” ( katedernocoeur.com ), as well as “Cambodia Tribunal Monitor,” and numerous guest blogs at “Design Destinations.” A detailed list of all publications can be seen here.
Two hundred eighty-five between 1983-2003, ranging from keynote speeches to one- and two-day seminars, in: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington D.C., Washington State, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Internationally, in Canada (Saskatoon and Nova Scotia), Japan and New Zealand.
Since 2003, many presentations have included travel/adventure talks OLLI at Aquinas (a lifelong learning institute) and other senior centers, plus continuing (but occasional) EMS presentations. A detailed list of all presentations can be seen here.