A Week of Continuing Education at the AMI Annual Conference

This year, the Anatomical Justice team of medical illustrators had the privilege of attending the Association of Medical Illustrators’ (AMI) annual conference, hosted in Rochester, NY. This event was particularly special for our team, as the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is the alma mater to three of our four illustrators: Ronald Mathias, CMI, Anne Mathias, CMI, and Emilie Hempstead, CMI. Back in Nazareth, we reminisced about our favorite moments together:

Networking and Industry Insights

One of the most valuable aspects of the conference was the chance to network with colleagues in the medical illustration industry, and more specifically, the medical-legal illustration sector. Given the niche nature of our field, connecting with peers who share similar experiences is invaluable. These interactions provided us with crucial feedback and strategies for continuing to navigate the industry. Additionally, we relished the opportunity to offer advice to the newest generation of illustrators on topics such as business practices, technological advancements, and artistic critique.

Exploring the RIT Campus

Ron, Anne, and Emilie took great pleasure in exploring their alma mater’s campus and showing the newest member of the Anatomical Justice team, Emily Higgins, around the grounds. It was a nostalgic experience, filled with memories and a sense of pride. Meeting their former professors and discussing their progress within the field, particularly RIT joining the ranks of only FIVE schools accredited in Medical Illustration by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Additionally, they all agree that it’s inspiring to see increased recognition of bachelor’s degree programs (such as the one offered at RIT) as an accepted path to becoming a Certified Medical Illustrator (CMI).

Hands-On Learning and Workshops

The conference also offered an optional anatomy lab workshop, which our team eagerly participated in. This hands-on experience allowed our illustrators to visualize anatomical structures in a practical setting. Emilie Hempstead, affectionately known as “the Shoulder Queen” in our office for her expertise in creating surgical storyboards of these procedures, was particularly thrilled to dissect a shoulder and observe real labral tears!

Seminars and Technological Discussions

Several seminars stood out during the conference. One notable discussion focused on the integration of AI in the field. While AI shows promise as a tool for daily workflow, the seminar emphasized that it still lacks the “thinking” capabilities necessary to sift through the records/documents and source imaging to generate anatomically accurate images. Another fascinating seminar by fellow CMI Bill Westwood delved into the history of medical illustrations and their role in accessing tumors of the pituitary gland in the brain. These illustrations have influenced various techniques and contributed to the development of new technologies.

A Successful Week

The Anatomical Justice team had a fulfilling week of continuing education, networking with other experts in our field, and visiting the campus where it all began. We are always striving to grow and improve our techniques, and the AMI annual conference is just one of the many ways we achieve these goals. We eagerly anticipate more opportunities to learn and connect in the future!