This volume represents the work of well over 1,000 individuals around the United States. As we explain in more detail in the introduction, the text is based on testimony presented at seven major regional hearings held in the winter of 1988 and other special hearings, and in writing to the Institute of Medicine. Much of the testimony comes from the 300 national organizations and state health departments that make up the Consortium on the Year 2000 Health Objectives, or people these organizations nominated. The individuals and organizations that submitted testimony as well as the organizers and cosponsors of the regional hearings are listed in the appendix. Although we were not able to quote every piece of testimony in the text, we are truly grateful for the efforts of the people who prepared testimony or helped to organize the hearings.

This volume was prepared under the guidance of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Health Objectives for the Year 2000 (whose members are listed on p. iii) and the Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. We have benefited from many helpful suggestions from the members of these committees, and from members of the Institute of Medicine who read and commented on early drafts. The final responsibility for the content of the report, however, rests with the editors.

The work also benefited from many Institute of Medicine staff members, only some of whom are listed with the project staff. I would especially like to note the contributions of Queta Bond, the current Executive Officer, who served as Director of the Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention when this project began, and Marian Osterweis, who served as Director in 1989. In addition, Connie Rosemont and Donna Thompson, the project's research assistant and secretary, respectively, worked long and hard hours revising and preparing the text for publication, checking the references, and making sure that our attributions were as accurate as possible.