The curriculum that evolved into the ideas for this series was inspired by two talented and forthright students, Philbert Yau and Chuck Rosipal, who have since graduated from medical school. It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Don Briscoe, a brilliant, compassionate, and dedicated teacher and leader; Dr. Bruce Britton, who is an excellent teacher and communicator; and most recently Dr. Joel Heidelbaugh, who has an amazing breadth of knowledge and brings a fresh perspective. I am greatly indebted to my editors, Bob Boehringer, whose experience and vision helped to continue 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 Madison Tucky, who has grown into a diligent and trustworthy editor, for her wonderful editing. I am thankful to Revathi Viswanathan for the outstanding and precise project management. At the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, I appreciate Dr. Patricia Butler for her encouragement, Dr. Sean Blackwell for his example, role model, and inspiration. As always, I appreciate Allison’s amazing skill, knowledge, and expertise; she somehow knows how to put the electrical impulses in the authors’ brains into words, phrases, and ideas without our having to saying anything—she is a medical editing wizard extraordinaire! Most of all, I appreciate my ever-loving wife, Terri, and four wonderful children, Andy and his wife, Anna; Michael and his wife, Nadine; Allison; and Christina and her husband, Andy, for their patience, encouragement, and understanding.