Medical illustrators create images for medical purposes, such as instructional materials, brochures, and research publications. They require artistic skills and training in biological sciences, and may work as freelancers or for hospitals, laboratories, or publishing houses. The field has a constant need for qualified professionals.
A medical illustrator is an artist who specializes in producing images related to the field of medicine. These images can be used in instructional materials, informational brochures, advertisements, research publications and a variety of other settings. The job prospects in this field are excellent for people who want to get certified, there are a limited number of fully qualified medical illustrators and there is a constant need for medical illustration.
Humans have been creating medical illustrations for thousands of years, as numerous works of art and historical medical texts indicate. Illustrations were used to document specific medical issues, as well as general topics such as anatomy, so that people would have a graphical representation of topics discussed in the texts, and they were also historically used for documentation of unusual medical cases. Over time, the field of medicine has expanded radically, as have the possible applications for medical illustrations.
To become a medical illustrator, one trains as an artist and also receives training in biological sciences. Human anatomy and physiology is usually part of a medical illustrator’s education, and he may choose to focus on a specific area of interest, such as nursing, surgery, and so on, to gain additional skills. Many professional illustrators also belong to professional medical illustrators organizations, some of which offer certification and work references.
This type of work requires artistic skills as well as an eye for detail and the ability to follow instructions precisely. Medical illustrators may also need to be comfortable working in environments such as operating rooms and morgues.
In addition to creating traditional drawings, a medical illustrator can also produce images digitally, in addition to being able to work with medical models, educational films, etc. He or she wants to communicate medical information in a clear, accessible and relevant way, whether it’s an illustration of a new surgical technique in a trade journal or a poster used to promote childhood vaccines for new parents.
In many cases, a medical illustrator works as a freelance professional, accepting jobs from a variety of people, including service organizations, doctors, medical schools, hospitals, and so on. Other illustrators may work in a hospital, laboratory or publishing house, producing images on demand for various projects. For example, a medical illustrator working for a pharmaceutical company might produce illustrations used in drug information pamphlets, as well as illustrations for promotional materials, publications in medical journals, and so on.
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