A Brief Historical Review of the Waterfall/Cascade of Blood Coagulation

This article explores some of the events and people involved in unraveling the basic mechanisms leading to the clotting of blood. It also brings to focus the important role that my teachers and colleagues had on my career in research. When I entered college majoring in chemistry I had little idea that I would have an opportunity to become a professor of biochemistry at a major university. This was clearly the result of the excellent advice and encouragement that I received, particularly from my teachers early in my career.