ART CAREERS

Student work. Kelli Gross, Dislocated Shoulder, 2003.

For the artist-scientist, a person both creative and inquisitive, the field of medical illustration is an opportunity to combine a passion for art, design, anatomy, and medicine. People working in medical illustration must communicate a variety of concepts about the body, from drawings of a complete figure to microscopic nerves and blood vessels. Through drawings, graphic design and animation, and text, they can translate complex medical information into easy-to-read graphics. Medical illustrators typically study both visual art and medicine, often obtaining a specialized bachelor or graduate degree.

Student Engagement Tip:
Encourage students to research educational programs for medical illustration, including biomedical illustration, biomedical communications, and scientific illustration. What skills do they need for a career in medical illustration? What interests and skills do they have that might work well in this field?