Health care disparities in rheumatology have been shown to have a significantly negative effect on quality of life and patient outcomes. There are several factors that drive health inequities in the US, including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomics, such as education, health care access, and income. In the first episode of the ACR Convergence 2021 series, we speak with rheumatologist Iris Y. Navarro-Millán, MD, who provides a deeper insight into understanding social determinants of health as drivers of health disparities in rheumatology and urges researchers and clinicians to look beyond just race and ethnicity when addressing these disparities.