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I would first like to acknowledge the many contributing authors for the time and effort they put into this project. This atlas would not have been possible without their hard work. They all have put in countless hours on their own time to provide the cases for this book.
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I would also like to acknowledge my many mentors and teachers who have inspired me throughout my career, especially the faculty in the Echo Lab at the University of Massachusetts who first instilled in me the interest in echocardiography. It was during my fellowship that my interest in echocardiography, which has been the focus and my passion during my career in cardiology, was developed. Special thanks to Dr. Gerry Aurigemma, my fellowship program director and Echo Lab director, mentor, friend, and colleague who continues to be a resource for me.
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Thanks also to the staff at McGraw Hill for their patience and understanding in this process from concept development to completion. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Bill Abraham, the series editor, for inviting me to edit this atlas and contribute to this series.
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David A. Orsinelli, MD, FACC, FASE