Students learn about careers in Medical Illustrations with SJ Okemow

Connected North Impact Series blog prepared by Jennifer Corriero

When SJ Okemow speaks about her career path to students during Connected North sessions, she talks about how she was initially considering becoming a doctor.

When she realized that she might not have as much room to be creative, she modified her direction by blending her BSc from the the University of British Columbia in Integrated Sciences with a minor in Visual Arts. This then led her to a degree in MSc in Medical Art from the University of Dundee. As a professional Medical Illustrator, her sessions talk about how science and art can be combined into careers we may have never heard of.

Teachers booking sessions are seeking to expose students to different options. “My career classes have been able to learn from other Indigenous people that are making names for themselves in various industries and fields. This has provided insight into different career options they weren’t aware of before.” (Teacher, Session Feedback)

SJ is the founder and creative lead at Vernacular Studios and specializes in unseen worlds. She is of Cree and European descent who can speak to the importance of her profession as a Medical Illustrator from a variety of perspectives. For example, she talks about how patient education is an important component where communities are able to gain more information about their health through materials produced by medical illustrators.

She enjoys taking questions from students and responding to the excitement from students. In one session, the students asked her if she draws penguins. She explained that “the role of the medical illustrator is drawing the human body but there is an adjacent career that is natural history illustrations.” She then went on to explain different types of careers in that field such as work for natural history museums and ecologists who draw animals and plants to help scientists.

“SJ’s presentation was comprehensive and engaging. She was excellent at answering the students’ questions and was clear in explaining what she did and how she achieved what she has.” Teacher

“Students enjoyed the presenter and drawings.” Teacher Feedback

Currently, SJ is living in Sydney, Australia while completing her PhD studying Applications of Virtual Reality in Medicine.

“Live sessions help you build a deeper connection. You can interact with students. You are there to answer questions right away.” SJ Okemow