Despite improvements in the overall health of the American people, ethnic and racial minorities and other underserved populations suffer from significant disparities in the burden of illness and premature death. These health disparities are not limited to one or two disease categories. They apply to a broad spectrum of disease types that include infectious diseases, vascular diseases, endocrine diseases, arthritic diseases, connective tissue diseases, malignancies, and mental illnesses. Some of the diseases disproportionately affecting minorities and the poor are listed in Figure 1: Sample of Disparities in Health.