The curriculum that evolved into the ideas for this series was inspired by Philbert Yau and Chuck Rosipal, two talented and forthright students, who have since graduated from medical school. It has been a tremendous joy to work with my excellent coauthor, Dr. Michael Faulx, who exemplifies the qualities of the ideal physician-caring, empathetic, and brilliant educator who can make complex topics understandable; he also has the unique ability to bridge the disciplines of internal medicine and cardiology, no easy feat!

Michael D. Faulx would like to acknowledge Dr. Eugene Toy for his vision for and commitment to this wonderful book series. He would also like to acknowledge Catherine Johnson and Cindy Yoo for their helpful editorial suggestions and Anupriya Tyagi for her tireless attention to detail. He lastly wish to acknowledge the Cleveland Clinic Department of Medical Art and Photography, particularly Joe Pangrace, Jeff Loerch, and Ken Celebucki for their outstanding medical illustrations.

I am greatly indebted to my editor, Catherine Johnson, whose exuberance, experience, and vision helped to shape this series. I appreciate McGraw-Hill's belief in the concept of teaching through clinical cases. I am also grateful to Catherine Saggese for her excellent production expertise, and Cindy Yoo for her wonderful editing. I cherish the ever-organized and precise Anupriya Tyagi who has nurtured this book from manuscript to print. It has been a privilege and honor to work with my daughter Allison, a senior nursing student, who was the principal manuscript reviewer. I appreciate Linda Bergstrom for her sage advice and passion. At Methodist, I appreciate Drs. Judy Paukert, Marc Boom, and Alan Kaplan for their support. Without my dear colleagues, Drs. Konrad Harms, Priti Schachel, Gizelle Brooks Carter, and Russell Edwards, this book could not have been written. Most of all, I appreciate my ever-loving wife Terri, and our four wonderful children, Andy and his wife Anna, Michael, Allison, and Christina, for their patience and understanding.