Lu Ann Aday, PhD, is Lorne D. Bain distinguished professor in public health and medicine at the University of Texas School of Public Health. She received her doctorate in sociology from Purdue University and was formerly associate director for research at the Center for Health Administration Studies of the University of Chicago. Dr. Aday's principal research interests have focused on indicators and correlates of health services utilization and access. She has conducted major national and community surveys and evaluations of national demonstrations and published extensively in this area, including 13 previous books dealing with conceptual or empirical aspects of research on equity of access to health and healthcare. Dr. Aday teaches courses in health services research and health survey research design.