Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 13e

Book Preface

The Editors are delighted to welcome you to the 65th anniversary thirteenth edition of Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. In this new edition we have strived to maintain Robert Williams’ original 1950 mandate 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.” With the passing of the decades, our scholarly goal has been further enriched by the addition of genetic, molecular, cellular, and population sciences, which underpin our understanding of both the pathogenesis and management of endocrine disorders. This textbook is geared toward providing a cogent navigation through the wealth of scholarly information that emanates from the remarkable and continuously advancing medical discoveries of our times. Our challenge remains to be both concise and didactic, while still covering all relevant biomedical endocrine science in an accessible and comprehensive fashion. With these goals in mind, we have once again assembled a team of outstanding authorities in the field who  each contribute their unique expertise in the synthesis of current knowledge for each area. For this edition, we have added new chapters on the genetics of endocrinology and on population health, and several new authors also now provide fresh perspectives on their rapidly evolving fields. These new contributions reflect the changing emphasis of endocrine practice today. Each section has undergone significant revision and updating to bring the most current information to our readers. We are deeply appreciative of the valued co-workers in our respective offices, including Lynn Moulton, Grace Labrado, and Sharon Sain, for their dedicated efforts.

We also thank our colleagues at Elsevier—Helene Caprari, Margaret Nelson, Jennifer Ehlers, and Sharon Corell—for shepherding the entire production process so professionally. The final product of this exemplary text is due to their skilled navigation of the medical publishing world. We are confident that our combined efforts have succeeded in achieving the high standards set by previous editions that have made Williams the classic “go to” book for all those interested in endocrinology.