WHEN I SET OUT TO WRITE MY IRST TEXTBOOK ON MICROBIOLOGY, MY GOAL WAS TO ONLY GIVE THE STUDENTS WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW, DESCRIBED IN A WAY THAT IS INFORMATIVE, FACTUAL, AND CONCISE. I THINK I WAS SUCCESS- FUL IN THAT EFORT, BUT I ALSO REALIZE THAT THE DISCIPLINE OF MICROBIOLOGY CONTINUES TO CHANGE AS DO APPROACHES TO PRESENTING INFORMATION TO THE STUDENTS. I AM STILL IRMLY CONVINCED THAT MY EFORTS IN MY IRST TEXTBOOK, MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, AND SUBSEQUENT EDITIONS ARE IMPORTANT, FORMING THE FOUNDATION OF MICROBIOLOGY KNOWLEDGE FOR A STUDENT.