An introduction to the forum section of journal regarding the article "Linking process to pattern: estimating spatiotemporal dynamics of a wildlife epidemic from cross-sectional data," by Dennis M. Heisey and colleagues is presented in which the author discusses various reports published within the issue including one by Shannon LaDeau on chronic wasting disease (CWD) models, one by Subhash R. Lele on the inferences of the article's data, and one by Jim Hodges on its statistical analysis.