Thank you to the thousands of patients I have had the pleasure of treating over the last 15 years. Your questions and curiosity inspired me to write this book.
Thanks to my literary agent, Alan Morell, who encouraged me to submit a book proposal and leaped into action to make it a reality. His insight has been immensely valuable to me.
The team at Rodale is top notch and deserves much praise. Julie Will believed in the book concept from the get-go as well as my ability as a first-time author to get this manuscript done in record time. Marie Crousillat, Gena Smith, and Brent Gallenberger all helped to actually make this a fun process.
To my informal focus group, who read through various versions and offered constructive criticism—Allyson Saunders, Shawn Brooks, Usker Naqvi—I am grateful for your help in making this book much more informative and easy to read.
And special thanks to Dr. Beth Seltzer, who helped me organize my thoughts and provided research and commentary along the way.
Kudos to my illustrator, Judy Newhouse, who helped bring my words to life with understandable illustrations. I didn’t always have the right words, but Judy always had the right pictures!
I want to thank my colleagues at Discovery for teaching me how to communicate health and medical information in both an educational and entertaining way. Eileen O’Neill, Group President of Discovery Channel and TLC, brought me on board nearly 6 years ago, and it’s been an incredible journey. Sylvia Bugg, Deena Edwards, and Rosa Young all make coming to work hardly seem like work.
I am grateful to my sisters, Charlene and Jackie, who always listen to me even when I know the answers, being the consummate big sisters to their younger brother.
I need to thank my nephews, Matthew and Michael, who keep me grounded and make sure that book authorship doesn’t go to my head!
I would like to thank my wife, Alisa, for her constant love and support. There were many days I was ensconced in the library, writing and rewriting the book. Thanks for all your understanding.
Finally, thanks to my mother and father, Anna Marie and John, for their unconditional love and support. You always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and provided me the support to do so. I could not ask for better parents.