Health Career: Medical Illustrator
Who are medical illustrators and what do they do?
Medical illustrators are artists who work with computers and other technical equipment to create graphics, or pictures, that illustrate the biosciences. These graphics may be included in health-related publications, films, television shows, museum exhibits or three-dimensional scientific models to teach people about health issues. Medical illustrators may also help prepare data and create artificial body parts – such as noses, eyes or ears – for medical purposes. They work closely with doctors and scientists.
How do medical illustrators typically spend their workday?
As a medical illustrator, you will generally work in a lab or a business organization creating images on a computer to help explain certain health conditions or parts of the body. You may also work out of your home creating drawings for different health organizations, or you may work in an academic environment. For example, you may work in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University and help a professor prepare a slide presentation that shows the results of his or her research at a scientific conference. Or you may draw detailed pictures of the internal organs for publication in a new medical book.
What does it take to be a good medical illustrator?
Do you like to draw and want to help people learn about health issues? Then you should consider training as a medical illustrator. To be a good medical illustrator, you should be creative and have artistic talent and training (particularly in drawing, painting and graphics). It is also helpful to enjoy working with computers.
What are some health-related jobs that are similar to that of a medical illustrator?
Art therapist, biophotographer.
Related links and helpful information:
- The Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI)
- AMI – Educational Guidelines
- Health Careers Center – Medical Illustrator
- Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Inc.
