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 coauthors, especially Dr. Andrew Dentino, who exemplifies the qualities of the ideal physician—caring, empathetic, and avid teacher. I am greatly indebted to my editor, Catherine Johnson, whose exuberance, experience, and vision helped to shape this series. I appreciate McGraw-Hill's believing 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. It has been amazing to work together with my daughter Allison, who is a senior nursing student at the Scott and White School of Nursing; she is an astute manuscript reviewer and already in her early career she has a good clinical acumen. I appreciate Linda Bergstrom for her sage advice and support. At Methodist, I appreciate Drs. Judy Paukert, Marc Boom, and Alan Kaplan who have welcomed our residents. Without my dear colleagues, Drs. Konrad Harms, Priti Schachel, Gizelle Brooks Carter, John McBride, 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, Michael, Allison, and Christina, for their patience and understanding.