“The Home Visit,” by Brian K. Unwin, MAJ, MC, USA, and Anthony F. Jerant, M.D., on page 1481 of this issue, represents the first in a new series of articles wearing the “Practical Therapeutics” label. Each year, two different medical faculties contribute articles to this series. The article by Drs. Unwin and Jerant is one in a series contributed by the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Ga. Guest editor of the series is Ted D. Epperly, COL, MC, USA.

We're pleased to welcome contributions from Dr. Epperly and his colleagues. A previous AFP contributor, Dr. Epperly has already earned distinction as one of the co-authors of the excellent two-part review of foot problems in children that won AFP's 1997 Kemp award (see the articles by Eron G. Manusov and colleagues in the August and September 1, 1996 issues)—and we're certain that the new “Practical Therapeutics” series will thrive under the guidance of Dr. Epperly.

Dr. Epperly, along with members of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, has approached the series with the core values of the residency program close at heart: that continuity, coordination and comprehensiveness of care and access to that care are the cornerstones of the foundation of family medicine.

The family practice residency program at Eisenhower Army Medical Center is celebrating its 25th year of existence. Over the past 25 years, 131 faculty staff physicians have been affiliated with the department and have helped in training 243 family physicians who have gone on to academic, clinical and leadership roles in both the military and civilian communities. Eleven full-time faculty members and seven additional part-time faculty members are currently involved in training 24 students in a six-nine-nine program. In the past five years, the Eisenhower Army Medical Center Family Practice Residency has been the home of four Parke-Davis Award winners for outstanding clinical teaching and one Mead Johnson Award winner for outstanding resident performance.

Located in a state-of-the-art family medicine center, the residency program accounts for over 120,000 patient visits per year, with residents receiving extensive training in exercise stress testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, vasectomy, colposcopy, minor surgical procedures, obstetric deliveries and circumcision. Using a longitudinal curriculum, the program has enjoyed tremendous success in all areas of family medicine, and in addition emphasizes the preparation of its physicians for the unique challenges of military medicine.

The Eisenhower Army Medical Center Family Practice Residency has realized a long and fulfilling history of research and academic pursuits, as evidenced by numerous original research projects, case studies and poster presentations that have been accepted by both military and nationally recognized forums.

The “Practical Therapeutics” articles from this family practice department will present clinically relevant information gathered by dedicated leaders in family medicine, while offering the perspective of a highly accredited military-based program. Topics in the series include men's health, polymyalgia rheumatica, osteoarthritis, herpes zoster, tuberculosis, burns, bites, skin cancer, anal disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.