Clinical pathology is the laboratory study of cells and tissues. A pathologist identifies the causes and processes of diseases through microscopic study. Some human samples studied under a microscope include tissue specimens, cells, body fluids and secretions. Information gathered from the laboratory study of these samples from the body allow the pathologist to diagnose, confirm and monitor diseases.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Illinois has 133 practicing clinical pathologists. Broken out by city, clinical pathology doctor density in Alton is 1, in Arlington Heights is 2, in Aurora is 5, in Belleville is 2, in Benton is 1, in Berwyn is 3, in Bloomington is 2, in Blue Island is 1, in Breese is 1, in Buffalo Grove is 1, in Burr Ridge is 7, in Carbondale is 1, in Chicago is 53, in Chicago Heights is 2, in Decatur is 3, in Downers Grove is 1, in Effingham is 4, in Elgin is 2, in Elmhurst is 1, in Evanston is 6, in Evergreen Park is 1, in Geneva is 1, in Granite City is 1, in Great Lakes is 1, in Harvey is 2, in Hazel Crest is 1, in Highland is 2, in Highland Park is 1, in Jacksonville is 2, in Joliet is 3, in Kenilworth is 1, in Lake Bluff is 1, in Lake Forest is 2, in Libertyville is 3, in Lombard is 2, in Maywood is 3, in Melrose Park is 3, in Metropolis is 1, in Moline is 2, in Mount Vernon is 1, in Normal is 1, in Northbrook is 1, in Oak Lawn is 1, in Oak Park is 1, in Olympia Fields is 1, in Palos Heights is 2, in Park Ridge is 4, in Peoria is 1, in Peru is 1, in Pittsfield is 1, in Quincy is 2, in Red Bud is 1, in Rockford is 3, in Round Lake is 1, in Salem is 1, in Sandwich is 1, in Schaumburg is 2, in Skokie is 1, in Spring Valley is 1, in Springfield is 4, in Taylorville is 1, in Tinley Park is 1, in Urbana is 1, in Westchester is 1, and in Zion is 1.

Most people think that Chicago, because of its size and popularity, is Illinois’ capital city, but that distinction belongs to Springfield, home of the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Illinois has hundreds of museums, numerous yearly art and ethnic festivals, a lakeshore bordering Lake Michigan, and the many national forests and parks that offers visitors camping, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Chicago is home to the Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and other cultural opportunities and restaurants in the Navy Pier area.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,763,371. Of this population, 3,172,677 are under the age of 18 and 1,523,937 are at or above the age of 65.