This is a special edition of FP Essentials for several reasons. For one, I worked with an excellent team of authors. Dr. Dalby and her team were always on time with their work; they knew their topics well and were responsive when dealing with comments and suggestions from peer reviewers and editors. I hope their discussions of dyspareunia and vulvodynia, sexually transmitted infections, urinary incontinence, and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome will be helpful in your practice and keep you up to date.

It is also special because this is the last time I will work with FP Essentials, as I’m stepping down from my role as editor. I joined the FP Essentials team nearly 25 years ago and became the lead medical editor in 2007. Over those many years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing authors from all over the world, with a wonderful team of associate editors and editorial board members who have been so dedicated to their work, and with the incredible and devoted editorial staff at the American Academy of Family Physicians. It has been a great experience for me and hopefully helpful to our many thousands of FP Essentials readers.

I will continue as an associate medical editor of American Family Physician and with my work in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Dr. Sumi Sexton, editor-in-chief of American Family Physician, will take over the editorship of FP Essentials as the two publications merge under a single management team. Hopefully, you will continue to find this publication useful in meeting your professional goals.

Barry D Weiss, MD, FAAP, Medical Editor
Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson