The curriculum that evolved into the ideas for this series was inspired by two talented and forthright students, Philbert Yao and Chuck Rosipal, who have since graduated from medical school. It has been a tremendous joy to work with Terry Liu, my friend since medical school as well as a brilliant surgeon and educator. It has been a pleasure to have Barnard Palmer, a very astute surgeon and educator, continue on our team. We also thank our excellent contributors. I am greatly indebted to my editors, Bob Boehringer and Madison Tucky, whose exuberance 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. Neelu Sahu deserves acknowledgement for her amazing patience and precision as project manager for this book.

At McGovern Medical School, I appreciate the great support from Drs. Sean Blackwell, Patricia Butler, and Pam Berens, without whom I would not have been able to complete this book. I want to acknowledge the many medical students who have helped to sharpen the focus of this book, provided critiques, and identified those pesky grammar and explanatory errors, especially Joy Davis, who served to review the content, compare it to national educational guidelines, emphasize material relevant to the medical student level, and served as principal content reviewer. Joy would like to acknowledge her parents, Jim and Carolyn, for their steadfast support, love, and encouragement. Of course, the words and ideas could not have made it to words, phrases, and meaningful concepts without my ever-reliable, incredibly talented daughter Allison, who has risen to wizard status of medical writing and editing.

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.