It is hard to imagine what the world would be like without modern medicine. Doctors today have a wealth of tools at their disposal to combat human suffering. From complex robotic surgical suites that enable surgeons to operate on patients thousands of miles away to simple storage mechanisms for vaccines in the developing world, engineering and technology are central to the way we fight disease. There have been many successes on the road to a healthier planet, but many battles are still left to fight. The following five diseases are considered the leading causes of death throughout the world today*: Heart disease Stroke Influenza (and other lower respiratory infections) Emphysema (or COPD) Diarrhea