In the world of commercial art, medical illustration is a specialized field. Within this field, however, there are a diverse range of different categories and disciplines: anatomy, cellular biology, botany, zoology, biotechnology, pharmacology, virology, and histology… The list is as inexhaustible as the field of science itself. With a series of special blogposts, we are celebrating several artists whose unique specializations help to cover this broad spectrum of subjects.

This month, Medical Illustration and Animation is proud to highlight ten talented medical illustrators working in the field of Pediatrics:

Todd Buck, Gerrity | Connolly, Body Scientific, John Karapelou, Fairman Studios, Fran Milner, DNA Illustrations, MedDraw Studio, Mica Duran and NEW YORK WEST Medical Illustration Studio

“Immunizations” © Todd Buck

Todd is a Certified Medical Illustrator (CMI). Since 1990 Todd Buck Illustration LLC has been developing and creating high quality custom medical and scientific illustrations for pharmaceutical and biotech advertising and marketing, medical and consumer publishing, and web-based patient education media. Todd is Professor of Illustration at Northern Illinois University School of Art and Design. He earned his Master’s Degree in Medical Illustration from The University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Biomedical Visualization. He earned his BA in Biological PreMedical Illustration (BPMI) from Iowa State University. Todd is a Fellow of the Association of Medical Illustrators and has presented workshops at the Association of Medical Illustrators national conference, the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators conference, and the Midwest Medical Illustrators meeting.

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 © Body Scientific

Body Scientific was founded by Marcelo Oliver and is co-owned with Lik Kwong. Marcelo and Lik are graduates of the University of Michigan Medical and Biological Illustration Program. In the years before forming Body Scientific, Marcelo was creative director at Anatomical Chart Co., marketing director of Heartsine technologies and President of Denoyer-Geppert.

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“Pyloric stenosis in infant ” © John Karapelou

John Karapelou is a Board-Certified Medical Illustrator (CMI) providing high quality custom medical visual media production and consultation services for biotech startups (including investor outreach), pharmaceutical and medical product advertising & marketing, media production, medical & consumer publishing, and medical malpractice and personal injury litigation. He has been recognized throughout his career for achievements in medical art with awards from clients and peers, such as Art Direction Magazine, the Rx Club, the Society of Illustrators, The Art Directors Club of New Jersey, The Art Directors Club of Philadelphia, and the Association of Medical Illustrators. Formerly Chief Medical Illustrator at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York, NY then later served appointments as Clinical Adjunct Instructor for the Program in Medical Illustration at The Ohio State University and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Art at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

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Certified Medical Illustrator, Peg Gerrity and 3D Biomedical Animator, Melanie Connolly, create illustrations and animations for the healthcare, film, legal, and pharmaceutical industries.

“We lease thousands of existing stock illustrations including full sets of 40 weekly fetal images for pregnancy websites, clinics, and parents. We also produce custom art, and with extensive backgrounds in immunology and microbiology, we love creating stills and films explaining the pharmacokinetics of drug therapy and the ultrastructure of disease processes.”

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“40 Weekly Fetal Development of Black Pregnancy” © Gerrity | Connolly Chicago Medical Graphics
© Fairman Studios

Jennifer Fairman, CMI, FAMI is the Founder and Principal of Fairman Studios, LLC and holds a faculty appointment as an Associate Professor in the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine where she previously received her Master of Arts in Medical and Biological Illustration. Jennifer’s background includes experience in medical and scientific illustration for publication and patient education, 2D animation, web publishing and interactive and graphic design. Jennifer is a professional member and served on the Board of Governors of the AMI and was recently inducted as a Fellow. She also received the AMI’s Outstanding Achievement Award. She is member of the GNSI, The Illustrators Club of Washington, DC, and serves on the Board of the Vesalius Trust. She has received Awards of Merit and Excellence from the AMI, a Smithsonian Women’s Committee Grant, the James Smithson Society Fellowship, and a Vesalius Trust Research Grant. She is also the 1999 recipient of the Inez Demonet Award.

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“(ECV) External Cephalic Version” © DNA Illustrations

DNA Illustration, founded by Alexandra Webber, specializing in images showing mechanism of action, anatomy, surgical procedures, immunology, and patient education. Alex attended the University of Georgia and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (double major in Scientific Illustration and Zoology) and she received her Master of Science with Summa Cum Laude distinction from the Medical College of Georgia. She later moved to New Orleans to join the Department of Fine Arts at the University of New Orleans, and she served as adjunct faculty at Dillard University in New Orleans. Her background includes extensive experience in creating editorial art and illustrating surgical volumes. Alex has been creating award-winning custom medical illustration with over 25 years of experience.

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“Schnozzle® Nasal Irrigation Medical Device” © Mica Duran

For the past 20 years, Mica Duran has represented the world’s medical and scientific experts with hand-drawn illustration and design services, through her boutique illustration firm, Mica Duran Studio. She is a visual storyteller of complex biomedical concepts for a diverse list of clients — from large pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, scientific publishers, and surgeons; to malpractice attorneys defending multi-million dollar suits. Her work is featured publicly in prominent science publications, such as Science Magazine; but a majority is published behind pay-walls in professional journals such as Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, or internal sales aids and publications shared by scientists in their field.

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As a medical illustrator and owner of MedDraw Studio, Mandy Root-Thompson works with medical, legal, and scientific professionals to communicate complex information to a lay audience in the form of patient and consumer education materials and demonstrative exhibits. These illustrations show general anatomy, surgical procedures, injury summaries, mechanism of injury, timelines, and medical imaging interpretation.

“With a background in advertising, marketing, education, and biological and anatomical sciences, it is my goal to create a unique solution to each client’s communication needs. I meet personally with each client (by phone, skype, email, or in person), review materials, and come up with a solution created specifically for each project.”

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“Otolaryngology Head and Neck Anatomy” © MedDraw Studio
“Esophageal Atresia & Tracheoesophageal Fistula” © NEW YORK WEST Medical Illustration Studio; Purnell

David R. Purnell has a Master of Arts Degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He was formerly on staff as the senior surgical/medical illustrator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (19 years). Currently, he is the owner/founder of NEW YORK WEST Medical Illustration Studio. NEW YORK WEST provides clients — which include surgeons, clinicians, nurse educators, medical device manufacturers, medical education companies and advertising agencies — with custom creations used in print, on websites, and in slide presentations. Specific applications include textbooks and journals, national and international advertising campaigns, branding, sell sheets, product sheets, technique guides, banners, and exhibits.

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Fran Milner is a visual communicator, formally trained in both medical illustration and studio painting, with extensive experience writing, designing, and illustrating content for both patient education and medical professionals.

“I have several styles, but all my work is consistent in that it takes complex medical content and presents it in an attractive and appropriate manner, intended to engage, instruct, and entertain the viewer.”

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“Craniopharyngioma” © Fran Milner

View more Pediatric illustrations here.

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