A medical photographer is not something people hear or think about too often. As a medical photographer for Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron for the past eight years, Swift performs a variety of photographic duties, none of which include taking X-rays. Swift, who received a bachelor's degree in photographic illustration from Kent State University, said she has always liked photography, but it wasn't until she completed her first year of college that she realized she wanted to make a career of it. Swift had just graduated from college when she heard about the job opening at the hospital for a medical photographer. A friend whose child was in the hospital at the time saw the notice and advised Swift.
Swift takes employee photographs in the hospital studio as needed.
She does some work for public relations. Many of her photographs are used for educational purposes. Swift said she may be sent up to the burn unit several times a week to photograph the progression of a burn to show the different stages a burn goes through in the healing process. Or she may be asked to take photographs during surgery, especially when there are abnormalities or oddities involved. One of the more difficult aspects of the job is when Swift is asked to photograph child abuse cases.