In my college career, I decided to enroll in the Bachelor of Specialized Studies under the title, “Medical Illustration”, with a focus on human and faunal vertebral anatomy. This focus would include understanding a wide array of medical terminology and developing visual methods of communicating those terminologies through an image interface, either through 2D modeling and rendering or through descriptive image illustration on procedures and/or infographics. However, due to the nature of my chosen major, all opportunities for my portfolio were facilitated outside of standard classroom activities. As a result, my opportunities were heavily sourced through the OHIO Honor program opportunities that offered personal collaboration and project development with professors and faculty throughout Ohio University’s campuses. 

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Under these opportunities as an OHP student, I was able to heavily develop my skillset in general animation, illustration, and graphic design for each different outlet of science. For example, several medical research projects were with Dr. Nielsen on a medical illustration depicting a capillary and pericytes in two different states: homeostasis and when the capillary is dilated, and Professor Klein, focusing on a medical illustration of a series of women with different skin tones and examples of melanoma per body type. Different types of scientific research I was able to work with include Dr. Curran, where I completed an understudy with a focus on anthropology through an illustration project based on an excavation site in Peru. And lastly, my award-winning project with Dr. Brodie, “Beyond Bees”, which consisted of a research topic pertaining to the necessity of syrphidae and non syrphidae species of flies within Ohio, and the recontextualized evidence of how important flies are as pollinators, contrasting the negative stereotypical appeal and social connotations with flies.

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The bulk of all my projects honed my skills to concentrate information and shift the language to Laymen’s terms whilst making sure the illustrations were knowledgeable, entertaining, and aesthetically pleasing for viewer satisfaction. I have learned how to properly brand myself, understand a new form of tactile textures for illustrations, keep contacts close, organize myself and plans, and remain punctual with my tasks. Through the leadership, responsibility, and success behind my projects which showcase a collection of illustrations of the functions, anatomy, and physiology of scientific and medical research, I have slowly come to understand the community engagement I offer toward broadening public perspective with updated and unique information. 

As a result of the multi-tasking nature of these projects throughout my college career, I have begun to realize my ability to assert myself as a reliable, loyal, and well-organized assistant. I also began to trust in my ability to complete highly complex projects by creating new infographics for public viewing and education. This has also allowed me to showcase the project towards community engagement, where the illustrations and videos are geared towards allowing the community to better understand the function and illustrative design of anatomy, scientific and medical-based research, and to compile the necessary information into laymen’s terms for the general public to understand and educate.