I just finished teaching my last class in my introduction to medical sociology class at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Today we focused on examining HIV not from a clinical or biological perspective but from a societal and health perspective. In fact, the two (clinical and societal) are inseparable in any dialogue pertaining to healthcare-in the United States or abroad. This issue of the journal, guest edited by Celia O. Larson, provides an insight into the many ambulatory care connections tying society and health.

We conclude this issue with our standard column from the increasingly important Republic of Texas.