Drawing On Their Talent And Knowledge

With backgrounds in art and science, medical illustrators depict complex concepts. Meshing artistic strengths with anatomical knowledge, medical illustrators depict complex concepts in an aesthetically pleasing way. With only five accredited graduate programs in North America, it remains quite a niche. Yet given the rapid developments in health care technologies, those in the field say its possibilities are endless. In 2005, medical illustration programs saw a nearly 100 percent employment rate for new graduates, said Chris Gralapp, vice chairwoman of the Association of Medical Illustrators, which offers certification to qualified professionals. "There is a good balance between the demand for medical illustrators and the number of new grads that come on the scene," Ms. Gralapp said. "Medical illustration is a specialist's specialty. At first glance, it appears to be a tiny niche, but upon closer examination, it is a vast wonderland of potential choices.

One subset of the profession involves creating diagrams that display how a drug interacts with the body. Another shows how medical devices work. And yet another portrays the function of prosthetics.

Mastering the craft begins with a formal education blending two disciplines - science and art. An undergraduate emphasis in both areas is helpful, if not essential. "We recommend that students major in art and minor in biology, but we have had very successful students who have majored in science and have artistic talent and training," said Lew Calver, chairman of the biomedical communications graduate program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The demand for medical illustrators continues in a technologically savvy society that relies on images as much as words to relay information. "Every Web page, every news program and all media we encounter today are heavily visual for quick comprehension," said Ms. Gralapp, a 22-year veteran of the field. "Physicians and other medical professionals have less and less time to absorb the mountains of new information that is coming at them. Good visuals shortcut their learning curves."

A staff medical illustrator can expect a yearly income of between $40,000 and $50,000 at the outset. Freelance medical illustrators can make substantially more money, depending on their niche market and the number of hours they work. Medical illustrators need a strong scientific focus but also a keen imagination, because we're often asked to illustrate what can't be seen. For example, a surgical photograph may show the surgical field, but not the subtle points that the surgeon wants to convey. A skilled medical illustrator can capture these nuances by using different angles or by hiding or highlighting certain anatomy or instruments.

Source: Dallas Morning News, Susan Kreimer, 1/7/07