Medical Illustrator

What is the work like?

Medical illustrators, also known as clinical photographers, produce photographs, videos and other graphical images for use in the healthcare sector. They also use their graphic design, editing and artistic skills to produce materials for medical lectures and conferences.

As a medical illustrator, your key duties would usually involve:

• clinical photography – using a digital camera or video to record a patient's condition
• taking photographs for use in monitoring the effectiveness of operations and treatments over a period of time
• using specialist equipment and techniques to capture 3-D images of structures like the eye, and to record specific procedures.

You might also produce artwork for educational posters, leaflets, publicity and corporate materials, annual reports, staff newspapers and organisations' websites.

With some employers, your work would include:

• forensic photography (photographing non-accidental injuries)
• bereavement photography for grieving parents
• copying evidence from slides and x-rays
• using software to produce presentations
• creating overhead transparencies and other audio-visual materials for teaching and research purposes.

You would work closely with both healthcare professionals and patients in a range of settings around hospitals and university medical departments.

What qualifications and experience will employers look for?

To apply for a trainee post, you will usually need at least a relevant foundation degree or BTEC HND, plus a portfolio of images. Increasingly, you will need a degree in a subject such as clinical photography, medical illustration or photography. Check with course providers for details of entry requirements.

You will improve your job prospects if you also have relevant work experience. Some courses include work placements or you could contact your local university or NHS Trust's medical photography department to arrange a visit or some work shadowing.

State Registration
This area is moving towards state registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC). To get on to the HPC register, it is anticipated that you will need a degree (or postgraduate award) in clinical photography or medical illustration.

• Health Professions Council

To prepare for HPC registration, CAMIP (Committee for the Accreditation of Medical Illustration Practitioners) has set up a voluntary register and membership is expected to guarantee acceptance on to the HPC register when this opens.

To join the CAMIP voluntary register, you need one of the following:

• a BSc (Hons) degree in Medical Illustration or Clinical Photography
• membership of the IMI (Institute of Medical Illustrators) or BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography)
• lapsed membership of CAMIP
• experience of working in clinical photography, plus a qualification from the IMI, BIPP or Medical Artists' Association (MAA)
• experience of working in clinical photography, plus a qualification in general photography.

See the CAMIP, IMI and BIPP websites for details.

What further training and development can I do?

You will usually receive on-the-job training from your employer. You may also be encouraged to join the CAMIP voluntary register and study (on a part-time or distance learning basis) for a qualification such as:

• (if not already held) a BSc in Clinical Photography
• a postgraduate or MSc in Clinical Photography
• a postgraduate-level qualification in medical illustration, forensic art, or graphic design for healthcare.

See the IMI website for details of courses, membership and continuing professional development opportunities.

• Institute of Medical Illustrators

If you are interested in using traditional artistic media you can follow the Postgraduate Training in Medical Art programme delivered by the Medical Artists' Education Trust (MAET).

Where can I go for more information?