They can use digital or traditional media and tools to create extremely realistic, schematic, abstract, or conceptual images. These images are used for advertising, editorial, institutional, instructional, or for academic publications and presentations, which can all be displayed in print, digitally, or in an interactive multimedia program. Medical illustrators in the United States have a master's degree from one of the five accredited graduate programs in medical illustration. Universities, authors, commercial medical corporations, and many other patrons of medical art need scientifically accurate medical communication materials. Medical illustrators are highly trained in the medical and biological science field.
Some graduate programs offer special courses that give each school a unique opportunity.
Part of the Medical College of Georgia's coursework is experimental animal surgery. This allows students to perform laproscopic and open surgical procedures on an animal, and get hands-on experience in an operating room. This course proceeds a long summer of surgical procedure observation, sketching, and illustration.