Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 12e

Book Preface

Welcome to the twelfth edition of Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. Robert Williams inaugurated this enduring textbook more than 50 years ago, and the goals have remained essentially unchanged (i.e., to publish “a condensed and authoritative discussion of the management of clinical endocrinopathies based upon the application of fundamental information obtained from chemical and physiological investigation”). Of course, today we would add results of cellular and genomic investigation, as well as the wealth of clinical trial data, as aids in clinical management. The immense and often overwhelming body of new information from multiple disciplines, in fact, makes this synthetic endeavor more relevant than ever to help guide endocrinologists in the care of their patients. To encourage the goal of both highest quality scientific rigor and knowledge synthesis, we continue to ask the most distinguished authors to synthesize entire areas of clinical endocrine science. The mandate for concise yet authoritative and comprehensive presentations acknowledges both the time pressures on today’s physicians and the desire to make the text affordable and easily navigated. This edition has involved extensive revisions of the previous text, and 22 new authors have joined our expert  faculty. A uniform style facilitates identification and ready use of clinical algorithms. We express our deep gratitude to the co workers in our offices: Anita Nichols, Lynn Moulton, Grace Labrado, Louise Ishibashi, and Sherri Turner, whose energetic efforts have made this work possible. We also thank our colleagues at Elsevier—Joan Ryan, Pamela Hetherington, and Dolores Meloni who skillfully navigated the dynamic world of medical publishing while assuring achievement of our goals. Their efforts have been essential in ensuring the successful publication of this high-quality textbook, which has become the classic text for all professionals engaged in caring for patients with endocrine disorders. Finally, we would like to recognize and congratulate Dr. Melvin Grumbach for his outstanding contributions to Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, beginning with the fourth edition that was published in 1968.
Shlomo Melmed Kenneth S. Polonsky P. Reed Larsen Henry M. Kronenberg