Medical microbiology is the study of biological tissues in a microscope, and how they relate to medical disorders or diseases. A medical microbiologist is a physician who interprets the results of laboratory tests in order to identify viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites – the microbes that cause diseases. These microbes are studied for their risk of causing disease and their effect on the immune system.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Illinois has 10 practicing medical microbiologists. Broken out by city, medical microbiology doctor density in Chicago is 3, in Evanston is 2, in Jacksonville is 1, in Park Ridge is 1, in Peoria is 1, in Skokie is 1, in Sparta is 1, in Springfield 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.