Acknowledgments

A book of this kind is only written with the collaboration of others. We are grateful to all who have helped and challenged us along the way. Our thanks go to the talented editors and researchers at Wordworks, Inc.: Donna Sammons Carpenter, Maurice Coyle, Ruth Hlavacek, Molly Jones, Larry Martz, Cindy Butler Sammons, and Robert Stock. We also thank Helen Rees and Joan Mazmanian of the Helen Rees Literary Agency for their sound advice and counsel, and Barbara Hendra and Danny Stern for their publishing wisdom.

We are deeply appreciative of the efforts of our publisher, Tim Moore, and all his colleagues at Pearson: Amy Neidlinger, Megan Colvin, Julie Phifer, Gary Adair, Lori Lyons, Nonie Ratcliff, and Cheryl Lenser. And our capable assistants, Dee Dee Haggerty, Judy Bennett, and Trina Wellendorf have once again helped to make us productive.

But we are most grateful to the real heroes of this book, the people who are changing health care and inspiring others to do the same. You will soon hear their names and voices, but we call them out here because this book would not have been possible without their courage, vision, and actions:

Catherine Camenga, RN

Florence Chang

Matt Eisenberg, MD

Debra A. Geihsler

Nan L. Holland, RN

Thomas W. Knight, MD

Scharmaine Lawson Baker, RN

Maggie Lohnes, RN

Zeev E. Neuwirth, MD

Cheryl Pegus, MD

Finally, as always, we are grateful to our famlies who support us in our work and whose care and wellbeing further inspire us to write this book.