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. Gabriel Aisenberg, who exemplifies the qualities of the ideal physician—caring, empathetic, and avid teacher, and who is intellectually unparalleled. He had “big shoes” to fill in taking over from my dear friend and colleague Dr. John Patlan, who has retired from academics and is currently in private practice. We owe John a great debt for setting such a “high bar” with five excellent editions of this book. Dr. Aisenberg would like to acknowledge Dr. Herbert Fred, a master educator, teacher of the value of hard work and skepticism. Dr. Aisenberg and I would like to express appreciation to Julia Chernis, who helped to coordinate the assignment of cases and served as our student representative, including a thorough student review for each case and careful reading of content, readability, and questions/explanations. Julia is a special person and will succeed wherever she goes. Julia would like to acknowledge Michael Kuhlmeier for his never-ending love and support, as well as her amazing grandmother, Dr. Nadya Natanzon, whose stories of her pediatric practice inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. I am greatly indebted to Bob Boehringer, whose experience and vision helped to support 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 for her wonderful and meticulous role as editorial assistant. I cherish the ever-organized and precise project manager, Sarika Gupta. It has been a privilege and honor to work with one of the brightest medical students I have encountered, Joy Davis, who directed the review questions and answers and gave input on the explanations for all the comprehension questions. As always, my daughter Allison serves as the assistant editor for the Case Files Collection and has been meticulous and insightful concerning her review and editing of this manuscript; she is like the key enzyme of the case files chemical reactions, without whom all meaningful activity ceases and with whom the words and concepts leap off the page with vigor and life. Most of all, I appreciate my ever-loving wife, Terri, and our four wonderful children, Andy and his wife Anna, Michael and his wife Nadine, Allison, and Christina and her husband Andy, for their patience and understanding.