Acknowledgements

The Editor gratefully acknowledges the sabbatical support that enabled this book: a Professional Development Grant from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University. Generous support, encouragement and advice was given from colleagues in the IWK Children’s Heart Centre, particularly Drs Andrew Warren, Robert Chen and Kenny Wong who covered clinical services during my sabbatical. A grant from the IWK Children’s Heart Centre Research Fund made the publication of this book possible. I am particularly pleased that the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and Canadian Pediatric Cardiology Association have endorsed the book, recognizing the importance of teaching auscultation. No support was provided from any commercial source. The opinions expressed in this book are those of the authors and not of the endorsing bodies nor the authors’ affiliated institutions.

Much of the planning, writing and initial editing of the book took place at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia, the location of the Editor’s sabbatical. The Editor is most grateful for the hospitality shown by Dr James Ramsay, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, and the staff of his Division. Pam Nicol RN, Clinical Educator in Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Western Australia, has been a wonderful and energetic collaborator on the trial of the new auditory training protocol for heart sounds that is outlined in this book. Dr Ian Wallman and Rhonda Wallman were exemplary hosts in Perth, generously sharing their home with the Editor and his wife during the sabbatical.

All the contributing authors have been most supportive of this book project and very patient with the Editor in helping transform rough ideas for topics into focused documents. Particular thanks are due to Dr Doug Roy, sadly now deceased,  for his inspiration and mentoring over many years and unwavering energy to find better ways to teach auscultation.

Finally I deeply appreciate the encouragement and understanding my wife Carolyn provided during this project, which has demanded so much of my personal time and attention.