Lloyd Minor, MD, is a scientist, surgeon, and academic leader. He is the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine, a position he has held since December 2012. He is also a professor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and a professor of bioengineering and of neurobiology, by courtesy, at Stanford University.

As dean, Dr. Minor plays an integral role in setting strategy for the clinical, research, and teaching missions of Stanford Medicine, an academic medical center that includes the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care, and Stanford Children’s Health and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Dr. Minor led the first integrated strategic planning process for Stanford Medicine. With his leadership, Stanford Medicine has established a strategic vision to lead the biomedical revolution in Precision Health (predict, prevent, and cure—precisely), a fundamental shift to more proactive and personalized health care that empowers people to lead healthy lives.

Before coming to Stanford, Dr. Minor was provost and senior vice president for academic affairs of Johns Hopkins University. Prior to his appointment as provost in 2009, Dr. Minor served as the Andelot Professor and director (chair) of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and otolaryngologist‐in‐chief of the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

With more than 140 published articles and chapters, Dr. Minor is an expert in balance and inner ear disorders. In the medical community, he is perhaps best known for his discovery of superior canal dehiscence syndrome, a debilitating disorder characterized by sound‐ or pressure‐induced dizziness. He subsequently developed a surgical procedure that corrects the problem and alleviates symptoms.

In 2012, Dr. Minor was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Matthew Rees is the founder of Geonomica, an editorial consulting firm that works with clients on speeches, books, articles, white papers, and other written materials. He is the co‐author, with former IBM CEO Samuel J. Palmisano, of Re‐Think: A Path to the Future, a book about the globally integrated enterprise and the emergence of the global economy.

Mr. Rees is also a senior fellow at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. He was the founder of FT Newsmine, a weekly email brief he produced in partnership with the Financial Times from 2009 to 2017.

Mr. Rees’s government experience includes serving as a speechwriter for President George W. Bush; the national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice; and the U.S. trade representative, Robert Zoellick. He also served as a speechwriter and senior adviser for the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, William Donaldson.

During a 10‐year career in journalism, Mr. Rees wrote for many of America’s most respected publications. He was employed in Washington for the Weekly Standard, the Economist, and the New Republic, and in New York and Brussels for the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Rees’s writing has also appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the International Economy, Reader’s Digest, and Finance & Development (a publication of the International Monetary Fund). He is a frequent contributor of book reviews to the Wall Street Journal. A native of Lafayette, California, Mr. Rees is a graduate of Wesleyan University.

The idea for a book describing Stanford Medicine’s vision for Precision Health was suggested to me in 2016 during discussions with faculty and staff who were working on plans for the initiatives that have become a part of this vision. Bob Harrington, chair of the Department of Medicine, and Priya Singh, chief strategy officer and senior associate dean for Stanford Medicine, were leaders of this planning process. It has been heartening to see the engagement of our communities in the planning, communication, and execution of the strategy for Precision Health. Those who encouraged me to write the book were correct that the process of writing would help us to shape ideas and plans for the future. The book is also a reflection of a dictum, first emphasized to me by Jay Goldberg (my scientific mentor at the University of Chicago), that concepts only become meaningful and incisive when they are written, revised, and refined.

I have the honor of working every day with wonderful colleagues at Stanford. Their work is a constant source of inspiration for me and for so many others. The patients who entrust their care to us provide a grounding and focus to our scientific and educational pursuits. Our partnership with them is a privilege never to be taken for granted.

Although this book turned into a larger and lengthier project than initially envisioned, I want to express my regret that I could not describe all of the people, projects, and activities that are having a transformative impact. The same can be said for my description of companies focused on digital health, where there are also many more than I can cover here.

I want to thank Harry Clark for introducing me to Matt Rees. Matt’s keen insights and his assistance with the interviews and writing enabled this book to be completed. Jessica Best, director of strategic initiatives and communications, is an exceptionally talented writer and gave us valuable feedback on the manuscript. Sandy Yujuico, chief of staff in the Dean’s Office, arranged and coordinated the interviews and helped us keep the project on track. Esmond Harmsworth, our literary agent, provided valuable assistance during every step of the process.

Finally, and most importantly, I want to express my appreciation to my family. Lisa Keamy, my wife, has been my partner, companion, and adviser for these past 32 years. Her love and support energize and motivate me every day. Our children, Emily and Sam, amaze and inspire us as we watch their journey through life. Phoebe and Watson, our canine companions, make even the most challenging days seem a lot better.

Working on this book has been the most intellectually stimulating project of my professional life. It has been a privilege to collaborate with Lloyd Minor and help explain his inspiring vision for a new approach to health and well‐being. I am particularly grateful to Lloyd for enabling me to interview so many distinguished members of the faculty at Stanford’s School of Medicine, as well as a remarkable collection of entrepreneurs and investors. Harry Clark is a valued friend who introduced me to the School of Medicine’s leadership—making this one more in a long line of fascinating projects he has referred to me. I want to thank my wife, Nina, and my daughter, Sophia, for their everyday love and support, and for accommodating my sometimes‐chaotic schedule. My parents, Don Rees and Marilyn Rees, both Stanford graduates, laid the foundation that has enabled me to have a rewarding career and a fulfilling life.