Becoming A Medical Illustrator

Becoming a medical illustrator is a good way to use your artistic skills alongside an understanding of science and anatomy.

They create images and illustrations of medical and biological subjects for use in medical books, training manuals, educational films, and other forms of media.

You can work in traditional or digital media, can expand their expertise to include 3-D renderings, and can even focus your medical illustrations on specific areas of biology and anatomy such as the heart or the nervous system.

Training And Accreditation

In general, most interested parties demonstrate during their undergraduate years an interest in both art and science. Typically, they will take a mixture of art and pre-med classes. This alone, however, is not enough.

Most illustrators go on to continue to take classes at an accredited masters program. These are extremely competitive, however - there are only 5 such programs in the United States, and they take only a limited number of students, so it is important to work hard during your undergraduate years to solidify your candidacy.

Make sure you keep both an excellent academic record as well as working on creating a high-quality portfolio for your work.

Joining An Association

Unlike other kinds of jobs, it is difficult to come across medical jobs without connections and associations. One good place to start is by joining the Association of Medical Illustrators. Not only do they provide support and assistance in finding contract jobs and positions, but they also provide forums for people to discuss techniques and training in subjects such as working in three dimensions.

Such associations can also provide additional certificates and accreditations which will enhance your profile, and also have conferences where you can network and discuss the industry.

Networking

It may seem obvious that networking is a critical skill, but it is doubly important for this position. It is important for you to advertise heavily on life sciences and educational forums, as well as to aggressively network and make connections with textbook companies, biomedical companies in need of advertising materials, and even physicians.

Knowing a lot of people in a professional context will make it far easier to discover and obtain jobs as soon as they are available. Create a website where you can showcase your portfolio and get your work out there to assist in this.

Expanding Your Medical Illustrator Business

Partnering with a software company to create your own medical design materials and software can be a great way to branch out in the field. Creating your own informational websites and guides to working in the field is another way to increase your profile and get into other revenue streams.

In addition, experienced illustrators can also find work as professors by leading medical illustrator classes on medical illustration.

Medical illustration is a competitive but rewarding field. If you have an interest in both science and art, becoming a medical illustrator is a perfect way to combine your interests and also have a lucrative and interesting career.

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