Closing the Gap is a valuable statement of contemporary knowledge and skills with which to prevent premature death and unnecessary disability. Originating from a conference held at the Carter Center of Emory University in November 1984, it summarizes a collaborative effort of authorities from various fields to compare the potential for preventing our most common illnesses by using current resources with the actual status of the prevention of those illnesses. The book's target is to close the gap between the within-reach potential and the current reality.