be diagnosed with diabetes than their non-spanic white counterparts. There has been much discussion about

Underrepresented groups in the United States carry a significant and disproportionate burden of specific diseases. For example, while African Americans make up only 12% of the U.S. population, this group accounted for 44% of all HIV/AIDS cases in the United States in 2010 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013). In 2010, spanics were 1.2 times (Office of Minority Health, 2012) more likely to be obese and almost 2 times (Office of Minority Health, 2013) more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than their non-spanic white counterparts. There has been much discussion about the type of effective interventions for promoting well-being and improving health outcomes in all Americans, especially for underrepresented groups. Medical social workers excel at providing direct services to individual patients. Given current efforts to shift the paradigm to population-centered interventions, social workers must modify their skills, broaden their perspective, and consider evidence-based interventions. , select a public health issue of interest to you (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental health).