Public health is the science of preventive health of the general public. A public health physician is concerned with prevention of disease by promoting vaccinations and immunizations and other public health services. This physician may have a background in epidemiology, or environmental, behavioral or occupational health. The public health physician may also direct health programs for governmental or private agencies. This specialist analyzes community health trends, and may consult with other physicians, community organizations or welfare agencies.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. California has 283 practicing public health doctors. Broken out by city, public health doctor density in Anaheim is 2, in Arcata is 1, in Atascadero is 1, in Auburn is 1, in Bakersfield is 3, in Berkeley is 5, in Beverly Hills is 3, in Blythe is 1, in Buena Park is 1, in Burbank is 1, in Camarillo is 1, in Cathedral City is 1, in Chico is 1, in Clovis is 1, in Colusa is 1, in Costa Mesa is 1, in Crescent City is 1, in Davis is 1, in Emeryville is 1, in Farmersville is 1, in Fillmore is 1, in Fontana is 2, in Fresno is 3, in Glendale is 1, in Grass Valley is 1, in Hanford is 1, in Hayward is 3, in Highland is 3, in Hollister is 1, in Huntington Beach is 1, in Huron is 1, in Inglewood is 1, in Irvine is 4, in La Mesa is 2, in La Palma is 1, in La Quinta is 1, in Lafayette is 1, in Livermore is 1, in Loma Linda is 22, in Long Beach is 4, in Los Angeles is 23, in Madera is 1, in Malibu is 1, in Martinez is 1, in Merced is 1, in Monrovia is 1, in Montebello is 1, in Moreno Valley is 1, in Mountain View is 1, in Napa is 1, in Newport Beach is 1, in Norwalk is 1, in Oakland is 5, in Oceanside is 1, in Orange is 2, in Oroville is 6, in Oxnard is 2, in Pacific Grove is 1, in Palm Springs is 2, in Palo Alto is 7, in Pasadena is 1, in Placerville is 2, in Rancho Cucamonga is 1, in Rancho Mirage is 2, in Redding is 2, in Redlands is 3, in Redondo Beach is 2, in Redwood City is 1, in Rialto is 1, in Riverside is 4, in Sacramento is 15, in Salinas is 2, in San Bernardino is 12, in San Diego is 39, in San Fernando is 1, in San Francisco is 24, in San Gabriel is 1, in San Jose is 4, in San Leandro is 2, in San Luis Obispo is 2, in San Marcos is 1, in San Mateo is 2, in San Rafael is 1, in Santa Ana is 2, in Santa Barbara is 2, in Santa Clarita is 1, in Santa Cruz is 2, in Santa Monica is 2, in Sebastopol is 1, in Sonoma is 1, in Stockton is 2, in Sunnyvale is 2, in Torrance is 4, in Ukiah is 1, in Upland is 1, in Victorville is 2, in Visalia is 2, in Vista is 3, in Westlake Village is 1, and in Woodland is 1.

California’s population is 36,142,137, and it is America’s third largest and most populous state. It also claims the highest and lowest altitudes in the lower 48 states. The lowest point in the country, Death Valley, is also home to the nation’s highest recorded temperature, 134 degrees. Tourists flock to this state for its many outdoor activities and attractions, including Universal Studios, Disneyland, Rodeo Drive shopping, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, wine country tours, and California’s numerous beaches and parks. Los Angeles is the nation’s second largest city, but California’s capital is Sacramento. The giant sequoias in California’s forests are among the oldest living things in the world, and a redwood in the Redwood National Park is said to be the world’s tallest tree, at 365 feet. California achieved statehood in 1850, and was named the Golden State after the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848.

According to 2005 Census estimates, California has a population of 36,132,147. Of this population, 9,308,563 are under the age of 18 and 3,827,038 are at or above the age of 65.