I received a wonderful gift last week, a new copy of the Third Edition of Chesley's Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy. I remember when the Second Edition of this book was printed ten years ago, and a well thumbed and post-it-note marked copy of that edition sits proudly in my bookcase in my office. I have been known to pull that particular edition from my bookcase on many occasions when working on a manuscript, trying to track down a particular reference or to lend it to students with the very deliberate command "to return it to me in a timely manner...". It is a book that I deeply cherish. So, it was a real thrill for me to receive a copy of the Third Edition, and my first task was to sit and re-read the first chapter: "Introduction, History, Controversies, and Definitions". This particular chapter is a must read for anyone involved in the investigation of preeclampsia, and is composed of Dr. Chesley's original chapter entitled "History" reprinted in it's entirety. The chapter also contains an "Editor's Update" which describes the controversies and agreement on the measurement of blood pressure during gestation and the continuing discussion regarding classification schemas (a topic that will be discussed later this year at our biennial NASSHP meeting in Chicago). The chapter ends with a reprint of Dr. Chesley's 1976 address entitled "False Steps in the Study of Preeclampsia". After reading this chapter and reviewing the remaining chapters I was struck by three thoughts. The first thought was an impressive realization of how far the field of preeclampsia research has progressed in the past ten years. Clearly, an impressive body of work in the understanding of preeclampsia has occurred in the past ten years in all aspects of the syndrome as well as some areas that have received new or increased attention including the roles of inflammation, immunology, agonistic antibodies to the angiotensin II type I receptor, and angiogenic factors. My second thought was stimulated by the following quote: "The trouble with people isn't that they don't know, but that so much of what they know ain't so." This statement reminded me that despite all we think we know, a lot of the time we aren't nearly as smart as we think we are. Therefore, a fair dose of humility on a regular basis is a good thing since we can't know now what may turn out to be not so in the future. However, my third and final thought was one of genuine optimism for what the next ten years of research will bring, and the ever present cautious optimism that we are always inching closer to understanding the cause(s) of preeclampsia and therefore perhaps a cure or reasonable predictive test. Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death, accounting for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year. Therefore, all progress is important and even incremental advances may provide a large benefit.

The NASSHP exists in order to organize, promote and encourage knowledge, education and research regarding all aspects of hypertensive complications of pregnancy, and encourages interaction and collaboration between investigators in this field across North America and Internationally. The NASSHP welcomes new membership applications to everyone involved in this field of research across North America.