Roland Staud, MD, is a rheumatologist and a professor of medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, as well as a noted and internationally renowned medical researcher. Dr. Staud's continuing and cuttingedge research on fibromyalgia is supported by the National Institutes of Health and other funding organizations. His research has clearly demonstrated that patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have detectable central nervous system abnormalities of pain processing resulting in increased pain sensitivity and prolonged pain experiences. Dedicated to helping FMS patients by sharing his knowledge as much as possible, Dr. Staud is greatly appreciated by attendees at major national and international fibromyalgia and arthritis conferences, where he is a frequent speaker. He is also on the editorial boards of Pain and European Journal of Pain . In addition, he is a reviewer for the Clinical Journal of Pain, Journal of Pain, European Journal of Pain, and Pain. He has authored many medical journal articles on fibromyalgia and other topics. Dr. Staud is a diplomate of the American Board of Rheumatology and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, the International Association for the Study of Pain, the American Pain Society, and the International MYOPAIN Society. Dr. Staud is licensed to practice medicine in Florida. Christine Adamec has been a freelance writer for more than 20 years, concentrating on self-help and medical/health issues. She has authored or coauthored 14 books, including The Encyclopedia of Diabetes (Facts On File, Inc.) and How to Stop Heartburn (Wiley), and has written numerous magazine and newspaper health features. Ms. Adamec is a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors.