Wilson argues for the importance of diversity in medical illustration.Credit: Hillary D Wilson
Hillary Wilson has always had a deep appreciation for the arts and medicine.As a child growing up in the Northeastern United States, she attended art shows, visited museums with her family, and worked with her mother as a primary care physician. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from High Point University in North Carolina, my path to medical illustration began to take shape. In 2018, she received her master’s degree in medical and biological illustration from the Hopkins University School of Medicine, founded in 1959 by Johns in Baltimore, Maryland. and physical drawing tools. She portrays diverse groups of people with the aim of addressing racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Nature We spoke to Wilson about how she found this career path and why medicine and medical research need a more diverse pool of illustrators.
What inspired you to pursue a master’s degree in medical illustration?
Art has always been a big part of my life and a way of expressing myself as a person. As a child, he was always scribbling and sketching movie and television characters, such as Balto the Dog from the 1995 animated film. But I was also inspired growing up by her mother, who works as a primary care physician, and I did the pre-medical track in biology at university. However, in my last year, I realized that something felt wrong about not having art as part of my science career. Many people don’t know this career path exists, but he knew someone who was already on it. After researching the course, I really liked it. I started taking courses in art, figure his drawing, and basic anatomy to meet the requirements to join a medical illustration program. I have built a portfolio in figure painting, general still life and graphic design. In 2016, I was accepted into a program at Johns Hopkins University.
What is the Medical Illustration Program like?
It was an intensive program over 18 months. In my first year, I took a wide range of courses in visual communication, including anatomical and biological illustration, 3D modeling and animation, medical photography, and graphic design. I also took advanced science courses such as human anatomy and developmental anatomy. In my second year, I studied surgical illustration. We spent a lot of time learning how to create illustrations of medical procedures and surgeries. Observed medical procedures. They then create a series of surgical drawings to present in classes and hospitals. Drawings were reviewed and graded by surgeons and faculty.
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For my dissertation project, I designed and created about 24 full-color, poster-sized illustrations as a visual resource to educate people undergoing gender reassignment surgery. Focused on hip and facial surgery for transfeminine. Surgeons show patients interactive versions of these illustrations on their office computers. This is critical in providing patients with reliable and understandable information about surgical procedures to aid in the decision-making process and care. It was a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
You focus on patient education and racial and health disparities in medical illustration. Why is diversity important to your work?
First of all, the diverse depiction of people in scientific and medical illustrations is very important. Because it reflects the realities of our population. These histories are important and shape the pictures we create and the kinds of stories we tell.
Hilary Wilson combines her interests in art and science with her work as a medical illustrator.Credit: Hillary D Wilson
As a black American woman, when tasked with visual storytelling, many things come to mind. For example, I often think about how to portray diseases such as dermatological infections in people of color. Always include sufficient detail and the most relevant information when creating these types of drawings.
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We need more variety of medical illustrators, and we need more variety in the medical illustrations we create. That’s how we create the richest and most effective medical drawings that represent everyone and benefit everyone.
What do you like most about medical illustrations?
i am always learning. Creating effective illustrations requires doing a lot of research, staying up-to-date with the latest in science, and having a good understanding of things. A recent project portrayed the dermatopathy of black skin for a general audience. I have read many studies that have looked at the skin at a microscopic level in order to be able to visually portray the condition of the skin effectively. It’s really exciting when I use the information I learn to create compelling illustrations for the public.
What’s amazing about this career?
Ever since I was a kid, I thought the only way to pursue an art career was to work as a painter in an atelier. I didn’t know that different uses of art existed. Medical illustrators work for animation studios, neuroscience departments in universities, textbook publishers, and medical and health publications. There are many opportunities to explore. I am very happy to have found a career path that allows me to combine my love of art and medicine.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.