Disparities are endemic across our healthcare system. Novartis and the Novartis US Foundation took a major step forward to address the root causes of disparities in health and education by launching Beacon of Hope, an innovative ten-year collaboration initially with 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including four HBCU Medical Schools, plus Merck, Sanofi, the National Medical Association, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and Coursera.