Dermatopathology is the study of diseases and disorders of the skin by laboratory examination of cells. A dermatopathologist diagnoses diseases of the skin by laboratory study of skin tissues under a microscope. This specialist may consult with a primary physician regarding the monitoring and treatment of skin disorders. Whether the source of the skin disorder is an infection, a reaction of the immune system, a cancerous lesion, or a degenerative disease, the dermatopathologist can examine and interpret the results of microscopic tests and offer recommendations for treatment.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Alabama has 37 practicing dermatopathologists. Broken out by city, dermatopathology doctor density in Alabaster is 1, in Anniston is 2, in Birmingham is 22, in Centre is 1, in Cullman is 2, in Fort Payne is 2, in Gadsden is 2, in Huntsville is 3, in Jasper is 1, in Mobile is 2, in Muscle Shoals is 1, in Sheffield is 1, in Tuscaloosa is 2, and in Vestavia is 1.

Montgomery is the capital city of this southern state, though Birmingham is its largest city. Population in 2005 was 4,557,808. Alabama is the birthplace of historical figures Hank Aaron, Helen Keller, and George Washington Carver. Take an airboat tour on the Mobile river delta, see the Alabama Civil Rights museum in Mantua, or tour the Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. Visit the Shakespeare Festival Theater Complex in Montgomery, or play a round of golf at one of Alabama’s many acclaimed courses. From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the state’s north to the Gulf coast beaches in the south, Alabama’s scenery includes a varied and diverse landscape.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Alabama has a population of 4,557,808. Of this population, 1,074,627 are under the age of 18 and 600,258 are at or above the age of 65.