Medical Illustration for Clinical Learning and Communication
TITLE: 听听Medical Illustration for Clinical Learning and Communication听听听
COURSE NO.: 听SOMN 651
DEPARTMENT: Department of Medical Education
DURATION: Semester
DIRECTOR: Tonya Floyd-Bradstock CMI, MFA, MBA, Wendy Lackey-Cornelison, PhD
ELECTIVE COORDINATOR:
SEMESTER AVAILABLE: Fall, Spring
NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 6 or permission of Instructor
LOCATIONS: Health Science Campus
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This elective introduces first- and second-year medical students to the principles
and practices of medical illustration as a tool for enhancing learning, clinical reasoning,
patient communication, as well as foster student wellness. Students will develop foundational
visual communication skills through sketching, diagramming, and basic digital illustration,
while exploring strategies for simplifying complex biomedical concepts. Emphasis is
placed on active learning, visual literacy, and the application of illustration to
support patient-centered communication, interprofessional collaboration, and deepen
their personal comprehension of intricate and foundational topics.
Course Learning Objectives:听
- Construct labeled anatomical diagrams that accurately represent normal and basic pathological structures across organ systems. (MK-1)
- Differentiate normal versus abnormal anatomical relationships using simplified visual representations. (MK-1)
- Compare how visual representations influence patient interpretation across cultural perspectives and health literacy levels. (MK-2)
- Organize clinical information into visual summaries (e.g., diagrams of symptoms or pathways). (PC-1)
- Develop and label simple diagrams to support improve patient or personal understanding of a clinical topic. (PC-5)
- Interpret existing visuals using enhanced observational strategies and apply visual analysis skills to identify key clinical features in images or diagrams. (PC-6)
- Demonstrate effective use of shared visuals in team-based clinical case discussions. (PC-9)
- Demonstrate professionalism in visual communication through integration of critiques into iterative improvement of visual work products. (PB-1, PBL-3)
- Analyze visual communication strategies to improve comprehension across varying health literacy levels. (IPC-1)
- Incorporate new visual tools and technologies into learning and communication practices. (PBL-2)
- Design visuals that improve personal or patient comprehension (SBP-2)
METHODS OF TEACHING:
Dissection, illustration, and small group discussion with faculty and other students
in the elective.听 Final presentation to a peer group.
METHODS OF STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Attendance at all required instruction and group critique sessions.
Completion of all required assignments.
Evaluation of in progress works and observable works progress following critiques
in between regular weekly attendance.
Participation in group discussions with other students enrolled in the elective.
Identification of structures involved in the dissection
PROFESSIONALISM: Students will meet the institutional standards for professionalism as stated in the current Competencies for Graduation.
LIFELONG LEARNING: Students are expected to meet the institutional core competences for lifelong learning as stated in the current Competencies for Graduation.
ELECTIVE EVALUATION: Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate their experience and make recommendations to the director, coordinator, and teaching faculty.
PREREQUISITES: First- or second-year medical students in good academic standing.
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UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Institutional Classroom Attendance Policy
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faculty to verify student participation in every class a student is registered at
the start of each new semester/course. If you have not attended/participated in class
(completed any course activities or assignments) within this period, I am required
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receive financial aid, so it is VERY important that you attend class and complete
course work early. Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss options and/or
possible accommodations if you have any difficulty completing assignments.
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The University is an equal opportunity educational institution. Please read 听 Students can find this policy along with other university policies listed by audience
on the .
Academic Accommodations
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are committed to ensuring equal opportunity and seamless access for full participation
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and Disability Resources, I invite you to correspond with me as soon as possible so
that we can communicate confidentially about implementing accommodations in this course.
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Religious Accommodations
A student is permitted to be absent, without penalty, for up to three days each academic semester to take holidays for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system or
to participate in organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious
denomination church, or other religious or spiritual organization.听 3364-71-30 Religious accommodations policy and 3364-71-30.01 Religious accommodations procedure.
Grievance procedure: A student may notify the institution of any grievance regarding the policy鈥檚 implementation using the听 3364-71-05.1 Academic grievance procedure.
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ECC Approved
July 2026