Medical Visuals

The Ohio State University’s Medical Visuals department produces award-winning medical and scientific illustrations to enhance visual communication in presentations, journals, articles, books, websites, mobile apps and grant applications. Our talented team of illustrators and designers collaborate to create custom artwork to support your specific goals and needs.

We invite you to learn more about our medical illustration, graphic design and poster printing services.

• Submit an illustration/graphic design request
• Upload a poster

The Origins of Medical Illustration at Ohio State

In April 1948, Robert M. Zollinger, MD, founded Ohio State’s Department of Medical Illustration as part of the Department of Surgery. He hired Gabriel Evancy, artist and photographer from Milwaukee, to head the department. The Department of Medical Illustration included a service unit and an academic program in medical illustration.  

The Service Unit 

Known by various names and housed in various locations throughout its history, Medical Visuals now resides in the Ohio State Health Sciences Library in Prior Hall. Medical Visuals’ team of illustrators and designers collaborate with clinicians, researchers, staff and faculty to create custom artwork and medical and scientific illustrations for presentations, journals, books, websites and animation. 

The Academic Program 

The academic program was established within the School of Fine and Applies Arts and housed within the University Hospital. William Frederick Shepard (1909 – 1989), a self-taught medical illustrator, established a three-year BFA medical illustration program. Below is a timeline overview of the medical illustration program at Ohio State.

• 1968 – Shepard retired in September and Makes Rl Kreutzfeld was appointed director of the Department of Medical Illustration. 

• 1971 – Kreutzfeld moved the program into the School of Allied Medical Professions 

• 1982 – Rick Hall became the academic coordinator. During Hall’s tenure, he emphasized the importance of curriculum, including program and course objectives evaluations and exit-level competencies. 

• 1984 – Stephen Moon became the academic coordinator of the Medical Illustration Program. Both Hall and Moon were students of Gerald Hodge at The University of Michigan. Hodge studied under medical illustrator Ranice Crosby, a Max Brodel student. 

• 1993 – The Ohio State academic program for medical illustration was phased out.