Infectious disease is no longer the biggest threat to our survival in the westernized world. Instead, human populations face diseases of slow accumulation such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and certain cancers. These modern diseases are caused by more than diet and exercise alone and are highly influenced by underlying inequalities that exist in Western societies. 

The Impact of Social Factors on Health: A Critical Reader for the Physician Assistant helps readers and professionals understand the importance of social factors and how they affect population health in US society. The text examines social policy and how the social environment is organized around gender, race, and socioeconomic position.