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Medical Illustrator

Do you want to become a Medical Illustrator? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Medical illustrators provide photographic and illustration services. These are used for patient care, medical education, medical research and medical publishing. There are four main areas of illustration work:

• Photography - much of this work involves taking still photographs of patients to help diagnosis and to track the progress of treatment. While digital photography is most commonly used, more specialised techniques are also employed.
• Video production - video is used for a range of purposes, including illustrating patients' problems with movement and demonstrating new surgical techniques.
• Graphic design - illustrators produce scientific posters, lecture materials and illustrations for information leaflets, reports and publicity material. They can use drawing, sketching, painting or photographic skills but increasingly use computer packages.
• Art - medical artists provide the artwork and illustration for medical textbooks or for promotional material for pharmaceutical companies.

A lot of the work brings medical illustrators into contact with patients.

Salaries range from at least £12,815 a year for trainees, to over £40,000 a year for some heads of department.

Medical illustrators in employment usually work around 37 hours a week. Freelance medical illustrators work the hours necessary to meet deadlines. Medical photography and video production work takes place in studios, operating theatres and clinics, and on wards. Graphic design and art work is office based. A medical illustrator should:

• have excellent photographic or drawing skills and be able to work well with computer design packages
• be creative and imaginative
• be able to deal with patients confidently and put them at ease
• be interested in medicine and human anatomy.

There are just over 1,000 medical illustrators in the UK. Most work in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals or university medical schools. Some work in research establishments, while others are freelance. A few medical artists are employed by medical publishers but nearly all work freelance.

Most people who enter this work have a BTEC HND or degree in photography, graphic design or video production. Medical illustrators are trained by experienced colleagues. They usually study for a medical illustration qualification.

Medical illustrators may become heads of departments. Freelance illustrators try to build strong reputations and secure regular work.

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