Medical illustrator
Medical illustrators produce resources such as photography and graphic images for professionals involved in patient care, teaching, education and research. There are four specialisations: clinical photography, graphic design, medical art and videography. All demand advanced technical ability and an understanding of anatomy. Medical illustrators are categorised as healthcare scientists (Agenda for Change , part of NHS Careers ) and are employed primarily by hospitals, medical schools, research establishments and specialist publishers.
Photographers and video producers are involved with delivering visual records of patients' conditions, operations and treatments for medical files, education and research. Graphic designers and artists create artwork for posters, leaflets, audio-visual lecture material, websites and corporate publications.
The work varies according to the size of the hospital department or private company. A hospital department usually has a number of medical illustrators and perhaps one member of staff (or more) who specialises in video filming and production. Activities for clinical photographers and videographers typically involve:
Activities for artists and graphic designers typically involve:
The profession is making each area of work more specialised and professionally recognised, so it is important to check with the relevant professional body about the required qualifications.
Relevant degree/HND subjects include:
If you are following a relevant, recognised course of study or training, you are entitled to join the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) as a student member and enjoy all the benefits of full membership.
Clinical photographers need a degree in clinical photography. Details of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are available on the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) website. If you have a degree in a different photographic discipline, for example from the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) , you can apply for a position as a trainee and take a one year part-time postgraduate certificate in clinical photography, while working. Either route will involve practical experience (work placements) and will make you eligible for professional membership of the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI). You will also be eligible for entry onto the register of the Committee for the Accreditation of Medical Illustration Practitioners (CAMIP) . This is a particular requirement for those working in close contact with patients.
Medical graphic designers, artists and web designers are expected to have a degree in design or other relevant media discipline. Some experienced designers transfer to the profession from the commercial sector.
Many videographers are qualified as clinical photographers and will gain registration through that route. Like clinical photographers, they work directly with patients and it is likely that registration in this field will be a requirement eventually for those who enter the profession by a different route.
Diplomates and graduates with qualifications in graphic design, illustration or photography should aim to find an employer willing to allow them to study part time for a graduate or postgraduate degree in medical illustration. Alternatively, diplomates should consider upgrading their qualification to a degree through further full-time study.
Entry without a degree or HND is not possible.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
It will be essential to have a good portfolio of your work with examples of clear, detailed images. See the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) for information about student membership, making you eligible to attend their portfolio clinics, which are held at various locations.
Pre-entry experience such as a placement or project, perhaps as part of a degree course, would be very helpful, as would any experience of working in a caring capacity. It is a good idea to contact the medical illustration department in your local hospital and ask about visiting the department and possibly undertaking an unpaid placement.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Graduates entering medical illustration departments start by gaining some experience on the job and then taking further qualifications. Recent changes to the profession mean that entry routes and qualifications vary, so it is important to check with the relevant professional body about training and study options.
There are two distance learning courses aimed at people already working as medical illustrators:
The Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) offers a programme of continuing professional development (CPD) which reflects the requirements of the Health Professions Council (HPC) . As well as CPD, maintaining a personal professional portfolio, making contacts and keeping up to date through professional bodies such as the IMI and the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) will benefit career development.
In hospital trusts, medical illustrators are employed as healthcare scientists at levels ranging from the basic grade for diplomates to a role as a chief medical illustrator or head of department. Some heads of department may be employed on NHS administrative scales.
Currently, diplomates are likely to stay at the starting grade for around three years until they have obtained a qualification in medical illustration. Graduates are more likely to enter at one level above this or, if they do start at the basic grade, they could expect to progress to the next grade within two or three years.
Promotion to the next three grades depends on the size of the medical illustration department and on local interpretation of the grades, although the Agenda for Change has brought about greater uniformity in this respect. The work at this level would involve more technical complexity, but would not necessarily involve managing staff. After that, promotion prospects may be limited, especially for people working in a small department, and relocation may be necessary for those who wish to progress further.
Opportunities for specialisation and for promotion tend to be greater in universities and the NHS, making them attractive employers for senior-level medical illustration staff.
Private companies providing medical services and developing medical or pharmaceutical products also offer good employment opportunities. Progression will depend on the individual employer.
Many medical illustrators also undertake freelance work. This usually increases with experience and contacts.
Around half of all medical illustrators are employed by hospital trusts and a majority of the others work for university medical schools. The larger departments are generally found in university hospitals, particularly in cities such as London, Birmingham, Cambridge, Oxford, Cardiff and Glasgow. Some medical illustration departments have only a handful of staff and there are even a few ‘one-man bands’, with just a single medical illustrator providing photography, graphic design and related services.
A limited number of posts are also found in private hospitals and medical facilities, and also with private companies that provide medical services or develop medical or pharmaceutical products.
A few medical photographers work entirely on a self-employed or freelance basis.
The number of medical illustrators in the UK is relatively small at around a thousand and although numbers have been broadly stable in recent years, these may increase in the future in line with rising demands for professional graphics, photography and video services in the health sector.
Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies. Some employers may approach art and design colleges or individual course leaders.
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