The curriculum from which the ideas for this series evolved was inspired by two talented and forthright students, Philbert Yau and Chuck Rosipal, who have since graduated from medical school. It has been a great joy to work with Debra Klamen, a brilliant psychiatrist, educator, and lover of horses, and with all the excellent contributors. I appreciate McGraw Hill’s belief in the concept of teaching through clinical cases. I am greatly indebted to my editor, Bob Boehringer, whose exuberance, experience, and vision helped shape this series, and to Madison Tucky, Development Editor. I am also grateful to Catherine Saggese for her excellent production expertise. I appreciate the outstanding work of Sarika Gupta, Project Manager for this book. At Southern Illinois University, Deb thanks Dean Jerry Kruse for his help and support in completing this project. At McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, I appreciate the support of Dr. Patricia Butler, Vice Dean of Education, Dr. Sean Blackwell, my chairman, and Dr. Pamela Berens, our poised and talented service chief for their commitment to education. I appreciate Heba Ahmad for her careful reading of the manuscript and advice on how to make it more user friendly for students. Without my daughter Allison, who is an excellent all-around medical writer and editor, this book could not have been written. Most of all, I appreciate my loving wife, Terri, and my 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.