Dedication

This book is dedicated to my family: to my late father Ira and my mother Arlene, for all of the guidance that they have given me throughout my life. In addition to my sons Wesley and Trevor for although I have hopefully imparted knowledge to them, I have also acquired an inordinate amount of insight from them. Furthermore to my life-partner Dr. Mariana Berho, for her wisdom, counsel, and especially love. This dedication would be incomplete without thanking people besides my family. Thank you, Jim Fleshman, for decades of friendship during which we have collaborated on many endeavors, including this book. Thanks to the hundreds of alumni who have allowed me to try to help them help their patients. I hope that this book furthers your education and reminds you of your time at Cleveland Clinic Florida. Thank-you to my executive assistant, Debbie Holton, and my publications assistant, Elektra McDermott, for your patience, indulgence, assistance, and perseverance in this project and in many others before it.

Steven D. Wexner

One can never repay completely the incredible gift that my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances have contributed to this set of books. As time goes on, I would like to think that they will all look back with pride to see that is indeed a great contribution to the training and practice of colorectal surgery. Thank-you is not enough but is sincerely given to each one of you. Thanks to Steve Wexner for including me in this effort and to Dr. Josef Fischer for his trust. I would like to dedicate this book to my wife Linda, who has tolerated my mental absences throughout many of the last year’s weekends and evenings to edit these chapters. While I am sure she will never read these books, she has contributed support and tolerance. Jennifer Hernandez, in our department at Baylor University Medical Center, deserves special mention for her ability and patience to read my edits on each manuscript and for keeping track of the whole process. Thanks to you.

James W. Fleshman