How to become a media illustrator | Salary, skills, requirements

Medical illustration is a specialist area of work carried out by various clinical professionals, including photographers, medical videographers, medical graphic designers and medical artists. These roles support other healthcare professions and fall under the umbrella term healthcare scientist.

Medical illustration is a specialist area of work carried out by various clinical professionals, including clinical photographers, medical videographers, medical graphic designers and medical artists. These roles support other healthcare professions with patient care, research, education and teaching, and fall under the umbrella term healthcare scientist.

As a medical illustrator, you'll need advanced technical ability and an understanding of anatomy, as well as the precision to create accurate images.

Types of medical illustration

The four specialist areas are:

clinical photography
graphic design
medical art
videography.

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 audiovisual lecture material, corporate publications, leaflets, posters and websites.

What does a medical illustrator do?

The work varies according to the size of the hospital department or private company. A hospital department usually has several medical illustrators and perhaps one member of staff who specialises in video filming and production.

As a clinical photographer or videographer you'll:

take and process photographs or films of patients, often concentrating on just one part of the body that has been affected by illness or injury
undertake more specialised photography, such as 3D imaging or using specialist cameras, to photograph the structures of a particular part of the body, e.g. the eye, photographing the lens, cornea and retina
arrange the necessary consent from patients
take photographs or video of medical equipment to be used by clinicians for teaching purposes
photograph hospital personnel, buildings and events for use in publicity materials and use publishing software to produce materials, such as the hospital trust's newspaper or annual report
specialise in specific areas of photography, e.g. bereavement photography (photographing babies that have been stillborn or have died shortly after birth for parents to keep in remembrance) or forensic photography (photographing 'non-accidental injuries', such as human bite marks)
use computers to download, edit and process digital images or films, using software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Bridge and Illustrator
manage and train staff at more senior levels.

As an artist or graphic designer, you'll:

produce artwork and designs for posters and patient information leaflets
create presentations, posters, illustrations and slides or overhead transparencies of patients and treatment procedures for use in lectures, conferences and medical journals
use 3D illustration/animation software such as Maya, OsiriX or Zbrush
design websites, such as hospital trusts' websites, for patients, doctors and the general public
plan the layout for annual reports and other corporate material.

How much does a medical illustrator earn?

Pay and conditions for medical illustrators within the National Health Service (NHS) are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates, consisting of nine pay bands.
Typical starting salaries for junior medical illustrators working in the NHS are between £28,392 and £31,157 (Band 4), rising to £32,073 to £39,043 (Band 5) with experience.
Senior medical illustrators earn £39,959 to £48,117 (Band 6), while a head of an illustration department or team at a university teaching hospital or university medical or dental school can earn up to £56,515 (Band 7).

You may increase your income with freelance work in photography, illustration for medical books, or web design.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does a medical illustrator work?

The usual working pattern is 37 to 40 hours Monday to Friday, although you may be required to work additional hours from time to time.

There may also be a need to work some evenings on call, particularly in hospitals that provide emergency services. You may have to travel to various hospitals to photograph patients, if you work for a hospital trust.

Self-employment and freelance work are often possible, as are job-sharing and part-time opportunities.

How to become a medical illustrator

You need a degree or HND to become a medical illustrator.

Relevant subjects include:

clinical photography
graphic design/illustration
medical illustration.

Clinical photographers now require accreditation by the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) to ensure standardisation and patient safety.

Details of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are available at the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI). 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, graduate or postgraduate certificate in clinical photography while working.

Search postgraduate courses in medical illustration.

Either route will involve practical experience and will make you eligible for professional membership of the IMI. The IMI also offers membership for professionals and students embarking on their career. You'll also be eligible for entry onto the register of the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). 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 another 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 this route. Like clinical photographers, they work directly with patients. Registration is not yet mandatory for videographers, but it is becoming increasingly important for professionals in this field. Study options like The Clinical Photography Postgraduate Certificate at Staffordshire University, for example, qualify graduates to apply for accredited registration with the Academy of Healthcare Science.

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.

Relevant courses include:

Graduate and Postgraduate Certificates in Clinical Photography or Graphic Design for Healthcare Staffordshire University
MSc in Medical Art and MSc in Forensic Art and Facial Identification University of Dundee
MSc in Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy, run jointly by The School of Simulation and Visualisation at The Glasgow School of Art and the School of Life Sciences at Glasgow University
Postgraduate Programme in Medical Art Medical Artists' Education Trust, which leads to membership of the Medical Artists' Association of Great Britain (MAA)
The MA in Medical and Biological Illustration Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, USA.

Medical illustration skills

You'll need to have:

a genuine interest in the scientific application of your skills and the treatment of disease
a sensitive and tactful attitude in order to deal confidently with a range of people and quickly establish a rapport with patients or healthcare professionals
a working knowledge of anatomy and biology
attention to detail to simplify and accurately interpret medical procedures into images
creativity with high accuracy to create anatomically correct images
IT literacy, as each specialism involves substantial work with computer software.

Medical illustrator work experience

To work as a medical illustrator, you'll need a good portfolio of work with examples of clear, detailed images. Joining the BIPP as a member will give you eligibility for Portfolio Reviews, as well as discounts on training, support, networking and competitions. Approved course providers will arrange for you to send images to experts at the BIPP who will examine and comment on their suitability for your portfolio.

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. Medical illustration is a small profession with a limited number of vacancies, so work experience can make you stand out to an employer.

It's a good idea to contact the medical illustration department in your local hospital to ask about visiting the department.

For free mentoring resources and experiences designed to support aspiring healthcare and legal professionals, including virtual work experience that is accepted by medical schools, see Medic Mentor.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs medical illustrators?

You can work for any of the following employers:

hospitals
medical schools
research establishments
specialist publishers.

Around half of all medical illustrators are employed by hospital trusts - others work for university medical schools.

The larger departments are generally found in university hospitals, particularly in cities such as:

Birmingham
Cambridge
Cardiff
Glasgow
London
Oxford.

Some medical illustration departments have only a handful of staff or even just a single medical illustrator providing photography, graphic design and related services. There may also be a limited number of posts in private hospitals and medical facilities, and with private companies that provide medical services or develop medical or pharmaceutical products.

Look for job vacancies at:

Some medical photographers work entirely on a freelance basis. Look at individual hospital or medical school recruitment sites, web design studios and graphic art studios for freelance work.

What are the career prospects and opportunities in medical illustration?

Newcomers entering medical illustration departments typically start by gaining some experience on the job and then go on to take further qualifications. The IMI offers a programme of continuing professional development (CPD) that reflects the requirements of the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

In addition to CPD, you'll benefit from maintaining a personal professional portfolio, making contacts, and staying up to date through professional bodies such as the BIPP, the IMI, and the Medical Artists Association (MAA).

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. Promotion opportunities may be more limited if you work in a small medical illustration team. Relocation may be necessary to progress further.

In hospital trusts, there is the potential to progress to the position of chief medical illustrator or head of department. As you move through the grades, your work will become more technically complex but won't necessarily involve managing staff.

Private companies providing medical services and developing medical or pharmaceutical products also offer good progression opportunities. Working freelance is an option, which is common among medical illustrators once they've developed appropriate levels of experience and contacts.