Medical Illustrator
Class Specifications – D.15
Principal Medical Illustrator – 6121
Senior Medical Illustrator – 6122
Medical Illustrator – 6123
August, 1976
Series Concept
Medical Illustrators perform or supervise the drawing or painting of plates and scratch boards for purposes of medical illustrations used in communications media such as publications, slides, film strips, exhibits or other visual instruction materials for classroom or lecture use; draw freehand or with instruments using common art media and techniques such as pencil, carbon dust, crayon, pen-and-ink, lettering, tempera, oils, wash or air brush; understand and apply the advantages and limitations of reproduction methods; and perform other related duties as required. Incumbents understand and use instruments and equipment such as but not limited to any of the following: camera lSystemwideda, slit lamp, ophthalmoscope, gonioscope, cytoscope, laryngoscope, and scanning or translucent electronic microscope.
Incumbents typically prepare sketches and develop detailed and accurate illustrations on the basis of direct observation of surgery or autopsy; make detailed and accurate sketches from photographs, x-rays, and preserved specimens; and reduce complex ideas to simple explanatory diagrams or schematic concepts.
The series consists of three levels which are distinguished by (1) the level of supervision received, (2) the level of supervision exercised over others, and (3) the degree of complexity involved in the illustrations. Medical Illustrator positions are distinguished from Illustrator and Artist positions by the application of general medical knowledge to the subjects being illustrated.
Class Concepts
Principal Medical Illustrator
Under general direction, incumbents plan, direct and review the work of a group of illustrators and other visual aid personnel; organize and develop visual aid services; and make original contributions to methods of medical illustration.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and responsibility are:
Supervises Senior Medical and Medical Illustrators in the production of illustrations and provides solutions to the most difficult problems involving complex medical concepts and terminology.
Supervises the purchase, use, repair and maintenance of audio-visual and illustration equipment.
Performs the most difficult illustrative work utilizing a wide range of highly skilled illustrative techniques.
Alerts members of the staff to innovative or more economical illustrating techniques.
Plans and coordinates exhibitions or other display material at a medical center or public convention center.
Advises on the design and artistic representation of illustrations, 3-dimensional models, exhibits and films.
Senior Medical Illustrator
Under direction incumbents perform a wide variety of medical illustrative work requiring a high degree of skill in the use of the instruments and media; may work from rough drawings but give form and substance to highly theoretical constructs; reduce complex ideas to simple diagrams or schematic concepts; and prepare illustrations of surgical techniques and sketches of anatomy for medical faculty.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and responsibility are:
Prepares molds or casts of three-dimensional models of fresh tissue from a patient using plaster, wax, paper mache, plastic or other materials.
Observes and prepares rough sketches or surgical procedures, showing parts of the body which are designated to be of medical interest; selects the final mode of presentation; and makes final detailed illustrations of a surgical technique based on subject matter knowledge.
May instruct students in the use of the media and instruments for illustration by demonstrating various techniques.
The Senior level is distinguished from other lower levels by less need for review of the final product or intermittent stages of a drawing; by a closer working relationship with faculty members; by the variety of assignments and facility with which they are accomplished; and by a more advanced use of medical knowledge of the subjects being illustrated.
Medical Illustrator
Under general supervision incumbents prepare illustrations from sketches made in the operating room; establish the style, color treatment, format, and medium of illustrations; recognize scientific or medical terms in the layout of work; are assigned responsibility for the accuracy of illustrations; design and produce teaching displays; and prepare three-dimensional models using various media such as wax or latex.
Examples of assignments allocated to this level of difficulty and responsibility are:
Under guidance of the appropriate medical staff, prepares fundus illustration from observation through the direct and indirect ophthalmoscope and from views of the structure of the eye as displayed through a slit lamp.
Makes detailed sketches, diagrams, and charts from photographs, x-rays, models, medical records and preserved specimens, restoring original detail, texture, color, and form not found or only partially present in the original subject.
Minimum Qualifications
Principal Medical Illustrator
Graduation from college with courses in medical illustration and five years of progressively difficult illustration experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Senior Medical Illustrator
Graduation from college with courses in medical illustration and three years of progressively difficult medical illustration experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Medical Illustrator
Graduation from college with courses in medical illustration and one year of illustration experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.