
Chinami Michaels
Medical Video Editor & Multimedia Specialist
Barrow Neurological Institute
Phoenix, AZ USA
“The uniqueness and strengths that you have to offer are different than anyone else.”
Barrow Neurological Institute
Phoenix, AZ USA
“The uniqueness and strengths that you have to offer are different than anyone else.”
Medical Video Editor & Multimedia Specialist
I edit videos of neurosurgeries for publication in academic journals and create science illustrations for researchers.
Some days start with a neurosurgeon doing a voiceover for a surgery video. When it's done, I package it, add patient details, and make it ready for publication. Other days, I'll meet with a research scientist to learn about a new discovery or innovation they want to convey. I start by sketching on paper. Then I'll use Photoshop and Illustrator to create or modify the image. I send it to the researcher for feedback. It may go through some revisions. Once it's approved, I send it for publication.
Here's the first step for college students
Work on your observational drawing skills because if you apply to graduate programs in science or medical illustration, that's what your art portfolio will be assessed on. I also recommend taking challenging science courses in order to meet the requirements to get into these programs. For example, when applying to grad school, I needed to have completed anatomy with dissection. I also needed to take a GRE.
"You want to be an illustrator? Are you sure you don't want to be a fine artist instead and go show in New York City? You want to be a medical illustrator? Are you sure you wouldn't rather become a scientist?"
Young Arizonans explore opportunity in their home state