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- Use creative and technical skills to create illustrations, photography, graphics or video used in medical settings
- There are a range of areas to specialise in, like graphic design, video, medical photography or illustration
- You could work in hospitals, university medical departments or with medical publishers
As a medical illustrator, you'll work in a specialist area, like graphic design, medical art, photography, or videography.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Record a patient's condition using a digital camera or video
- Take photographs to monitor the effectiveness of operations and treatments
- Use specialist equipment and techniques to capture 3D images of structures like the eye
- Record specific procedures
You might also:
- Provide bereavement photography for grieving parents
- Copy evidence from slides and x-rays
- Use software to produce presentations
- Create visual materials for teaching and research purposes, publicity materials, annual reports, staff newspapers, and websites
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll work closely with doctors, nurses and patients in hospitals and university medical departments. You could work in a photographic studio or in an NHS or private hospital.
You'll need
For this role, you'll need thoroughness and attention to detail; design skills and knowledge; knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software; thinking and reasoning skills; good initiative; the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure; and flexibility and openness to change.
You'll normally need a degree in a relevant subject like photography, graphic design, illustration, or art and design. You can apply for a trainee position as a medical illustrator in a healthcare setting once you complete your degree.
You can apply to do a postgraduate qualification if you're already working in healthcare and you have a relevant degree.
Medical illustration is a small and specialised field, and there's a lot of competition for vacancies, so your job prospects will be improved with relevant work experience.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could progress to a management role, and with further study, you could move into research or teaching.