James E. Duncan, MD, FACS, FASCRS

It is my pleasure and honor to introduce Dr. James E. Duncan as this volume's guest editor. Jim is the Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Jim received his undergraduate and medical school training at Duke University in Durham, NC, prior to starting his Navy commitment and completing his General Surgery Residency training at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Following this, I had the privilege of getting to know Jim very well during our time together as fellows at the University of Minnesota Colon and Rectal Surgery residency program in Minneapolis, MN. Jim returned to Bethesda where he risen up the ranks through the years, ultimately leading the colorectal division and serving as the Associate Program Director for the General Surgery Residency.

Along the way Jim has served several combat tours overseas in Kuwait, Iraq, and aboard the USNS Comfort in support of Operation Continuing Promise. Jim is a busy surgeon, wonderful teacher, and one of the brightest people I have had the pleasure of befriending. He has several peer-reviewed publications, has presented nationally and internationally, and served the ASCRS on various committees. Jim and his wife, Deidre, have two children—Sophia and Andrew—and currently reside in Bethesda, MD. In his free time, Jim enjoys working out, spending time with his family, and reading a good book.

On a personal level, I would like to thank Jim for his hard work with this volume, and more importantly for his time away serving our country, away from his family. On behalf of the readers and staff of Clinics of Colon and Rectal Surgery, I sincerely thank Dr. Duncan for serving as a Guest Editor and for providing us with a superb issue on minimally invasive approaches to colorectal disease.