7‘Integrated Pharmacology | Page Curtis - Sutter - Walker» Hoffman ive P Page PhD Professor of Phermacology Depariment of Pharmacclagy King’s College London UK Morley C Sutter MD PhD Professor of Pharmacology and Honorary Assooiate Professor of Medicine epariments of Pharmacoioay & Therapeutics end Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver Cenaca Michael J Curtis PhD. Reader in Pharmacology Department of Pharmacology King’s College London UK Michael JA Walker PhD: Profassor of Pharmacology Department of Pharmacology & Therapautios Universty of British Columoia Verioouver Canada Brian B Hoffman MD Projessor of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicina and Geriatrios, Research, Education end Giinical Center Velerans Affairs Health Gere Sysicin Palo Alte USA‘Asa teacher of phaimacology for almost thity years, | have often heard students lament their dissatisfaction with the enormous amaunt of information that must be memorized during ther introductory course in medical ‘pharmacology. | hava also heard toachars attempt to encourage their students by teling tham that once all the information is memorized it can then be assiniated into lasting understanding. Thess samo toachars express ther disappointment (andi amazement) whan they re-encounter their students two years later ona clinical pharmacology course and find that much, ifnot ‘most, of the information presented in the second year of medial school has been forgetien. ‘The authors and editors of integrated Pharmacology have recognized thet ieaming, ie. understanding of conoapts and retention of useful information, requires a framework in which the inforation can be inter related. Pharmacology &, by ceirition, an integration, Itis the integration of chemistry, anatomy, physiology, molecular biotogy, and pathclogy that enables the student to understand why, when, and how drugs can be used to ‘reat disease. It is therefore only logical thal I would be more efficient and ionger lasting to learn pharmacology by first reviewing the normal hysioiogy, then the pathophysiology and how it can be perturbed to trea! a disease. A fresh understanding of the physiologic machanisms responsible for normal Cortral of olood prassure and a vid picture of the end organ damage brought about by rypertension give the student a vivid and memorable mental ‘framework upon which to hang the dittarent aotions of entihypertensive drugs. ‘This textbook isa refteshing change from the past Unlike many pharmacology texts, itis eminently readable because of the logical flow of information ‘that oullos inte therapeutic concent, The outstanding ilustrations diepiay complex processes in attractive and easily understood figures. The use throughout the text of a common sat of icons to describe the targets cof drugs is a welcome innovation thet wil faciitate learning. | believe many of today’s students will nd this approach to learning pharmacology less onerous and hopefully more rewercing then their predecessors who have waded into the morass of unrelatad pharmacologic facts only to be frustrated, ‘The practice of medicine reas immensely on the eppropriete use of medications to treat diseases, However, all too often physicians are overwhelmed by the seemingly unrelated tragrrents of information that ‘must be remembered to safely and effectively prescribe and monitor drug therapy. Too often, cruge that interact adversely ave co-presorited, dosages are not reduced ‘appropriately for patients with impairment of the critical, route of crug aliminaton, etc. The presentation of the necessary information in an integrated fashion, ulcing upon an understanding of how ciseases alter ‘normal physiology, has the potential to provide lasting, Understanding and improved therapeutics, An academic who only presents facts is not a tazcher: ‘a teacher is one who nurtures the leerning process and thereby modifies behavior and patterns of thinking for a litetime. | trust that Intagrated Pharmacology is a teacher's too! that will result n improved therapeutics, Raymond L Woosley MD PhD Professor and Cheirman, Pharmasclogy Georgetown University Presiden: 1936-1093, ‘The Assucaton for Medical Sztiool of Pharmacoiogy