Marine to art major: ‘Art never really stopped for me, even while at war’
“Making art in general has been very therapeutic for me," said Edna Martinez, a former Marine now art grad. "It's not just a passion anymore. It's become a necessity.”
The Medical Illustration Graduate Program within the College of Allied Health Sciences at Augusta University is one of only four such programs in the country.
Completion of the twenty-one-month curriculum in Medical Illustration results in a Master of Science in Medical Illustration (MSMI) degree granted through The Graduate School. Augusta University is part of the University System of Georgia.
College of Allied Health- Medical Illustration
Health Sciences Campus
Suite 1101
1474 Laney-Walker Blvd.
Augusta, GA 30912
706-721-3266
The program emphasizes anatomical and surgical illustration for print and electronic publication, as well as for projection and broadcast distribution. Because of the importance of good drawing skills, our students learn a variety of traditional illustration techniques during the first year. Computer technologies and digital techniques used to prepare both vector and raster images for print, projection, animation, and multimedia are also extensively integrated into the curriculum. In addition to being skilled artists, medical illustrators must be knowledgeable in anatomy and the health sciences. Our students study communication theory and illustration techniques, and take graduate-level science courses, such as gross anatomy and cell biology, in the medical school.
During the second year, students refine their illustration skills and are introduced to the various media, rendering styles and illustration techniques used by contemporary professional medical illustrators. They also learn professional production techniques for interactive communication media. In addition, they spend time each week in the operating room observing and sketching. Assignments are based on their observations, and are developed with the guidance of our internationally renowned faculty.
Visual problem-solving is a crucial skill for the professional medical illustrator. Throughout the curriculum, the faculty work with the students to develop their problem-solving abilities. In addition to formal classes, seminars and lectures, our students learn by hands-on performance, by participating in project critiques, and by cultivating creative thinking in peer-to-peer interactions. To better prepare our students to be productive in the rapidly evolving world of communications, class assignments are designed to give them not only theoretical knowledge but practical experience as well.
January 10, 2023
“Making art in general has been very therapeutic for me," said Edna Martinez, a former Marine now art grad. "It's not just a passion anymore. It's become a necessity.”
"I wanted to really tell the story of how the illustration came to be,” said McKenzie Young.
“We were surprised that we won but we were really passionate about our project to begin with. It’s just amazing that a lot of people also were interested in the pitch."
First-year students in the Master of Science in Medical Illustration program received hands-on training through a unique partnership with Phinizy Swamp Nature Center and Center for Water Sciences.