I was honored to receive an invitation to address the Baptist Medical Dental Fellow annual convention in Fort Worth. Such an esteemed assembly of scholars and dedicated women and men, most of whom have served voluntarily in the poorest communities around the globe. The topic they asked me to address on April 17 was “Tropical Medicine Update.” But just what is tropical medicine? Ask most healthcare professionals and they will reply with examples of diseases like schistosomiasis, dengue fever, and malaria. While all three diseases are prevalent in The Philippines, they are unknown in neighboring Singapore. What’s the difference? It’s all about economics. Many communities in the former nation lack adequate housing, nutrition, safe water and medical care, while amid the relative wealth of Singapore these basic necessities are all but guaranteed. The typical tropical diseases are better identified as “Diseases of Poverty,” for wherever poverty is found these associated diseases flourish.