Meet Carol , Certified Medical Illustrator

I am dedicated to providing top-quality medical media tailored to your needs. Whether you seek to impress with intricate detail or prefer a straightforward approach, my goal is to help your art project achieve its intended purpose.

With extensive knowledge and expertise in complex medical and scientific concepts, I can visualize anatomical structures from unique perspectives, not just the standard views. What sets a medical illustrator apart is the ability to conceptualize and create medical relationships that don’t yet exist on paper. While replicating existing medical art is simple and inexpensive, true value lies in analyzing, studying, and improving upon references to find the most accurate and effective way to communicate an idea. That's where a skilled medical illustrator comes in.

Visual Solutions for Science and Medicine

Proud member

Association of Medical Illustrators

Board Certified Medical Illustrator

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

What Makes Me Stand Out

With over 17 years of experience as a board-certified medical illustrator, I bring both deep anatomical knowledge and artistic precision to every project. I don’t just draw—I understand the science. My work balances medical accuracy with visual clarity, ensuring that your content is not only beautiful but also trustworthy and informative.

Why You Get More Accurate Illustrations with Me

I research every project thoroughly and ask the right questions up front, saving you rounds of revisions. My background in both science and design allows me to spot anatomical inaccuracies others might miss.

Why My Approach Is Better Than Others

I combine traditional illustration skills with advanced digital tools to deliver visuals that are clean, consistent, and tailored to your specific audience—whether it’s surgeons, students, or patients. My process is collaborative and detail-focused, shaped by years of working with top publishers, researchers, and healthcare professionals. You won’t get generic templates—every image is built with intention and purpose.

Why You Get More Efficient Process with Me

You'll get illustrations that meet high professional standards, delivered on time and formatted correctly the first time—so you can focus on your work, not fixing your visuals.

Carol Hrejsa (Huh-RAY-sa) has been illustrating since 2007. She completed her Masters of Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Biomedical Visualization program. Her early interest in biology led her to the undergraduate study of biological sciences at the University of Chicago, with work experience at the university's dinosaur lab. Carol's science background gives her the advantage of understanding complex material. Her left-brain approach to art makes even the most challenging topics comprehensive.

As an adjunct professor within the Biomedical Visualization minor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Carol instructs the introductory course, Life Science Visualization Techniques. She provides undergraduates with an early immersion into the biomedical visualization field, equipping them with fundamental skills in mastering digital editing software. She also instructs the graduate course, Graphic Design and how it applies to the field of science and medicine.

Carol worked as a senior medical illustrator and project manager at Body Scientific International for 17 years, focusing on the publishing and patient education market. She played a vital role in training many recent graduates to master the Adobe Creative Suite, providing guidance in decision-making and helping to shape their creative processes in a professional setting. Her contributions include creating original illustrations, refining existing ones, and mentoring new illustrators to ensure they meet our standards of style and expertise. Carol's illustrations have been featured in the following publications.

Year	Title	Publisher
2024	Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology, 3rd Edition	Goodheart-Wilcox
2024	The Foundation and Art of Robotic Surgery	McGraw Hill
2024	Introduction to Health Science, 2nd Edition	Goodheart-Wilcox
2022	Psychology 7e	SAGE Publications, Inc
2022	Building Science Graphics	CRC Press
2022	Essentials of Psychology First Edition	SAGE Publications, Inc
2022	Cognitive Psychology: Theory, Process, and Methodology 3e	SAGE Publications, Inc
2021	Brain & Behavior An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience 6e	SAGE Publications, Inc
2020	Introduction to Medical Terminology, 2nd Edition	Goodheart-Wilcox
2020	Anatomy & Physiology Essentials, 2nd Edition	Goodheart-Wilcox
2020	Adolescense in Context	SAGE Publications, Inc
2020	The Nursing Assistant: Essentials of Holistic Care, Brief Edition 1e	Goodheart-Wilcox

I love placing anatomy into dynamic poses.

This image illustrates the muscle anatomy of a female athlete in a dynamic pose, showcasing key muscle groups. Deltoids, pectoralis major, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, rectus abdominis, obliques, quadriceps, hamstrings. This representation is valuable for patient education and medical training, enhancing understanding of muscle function in athletic performance.

#MuscleAnatomy #FemaleAthlete #MedicalIllustration #AnatomyArt #SportsScience #AnatomyEducation #AthleticPerformance #HumanBody #MedicalTraining #AnatomyDrawing

Something new for me — fine art!

I recently submitted three small skeleton oil paintings to a local tiny art show. I usually illustrate anatomy professionally, but the beauty of the skeleton captivates me on a deeper, creative level. This show reminded me how much I enjoy exploring anatomy beyond its scientific purpose. I had such a great time painting these pieces that I’m already planning more macabre-themed works.

#FineArt #OilPainting #AnatomyArt #MacabreArt #SkeletonArt

Measles doesn’t always look the same.

Too often, medical images show symptoms on light skin only—which can lead to missed diagnoses in patients with darker skin tones. For International Infection Prevention Week, I updated a vintage illustration of measles to a modern, medically accurate version on African American skin.

Representation matters in healthcare. Visuals shape what we learn, what we notice, and who gets proper care.

#IIPW25 is a reminder that infection prevention includes better education, better visuals, and better equity.

Let’s keep improving the images we use to teach, train, and treat.

#InfectionPrevention #SkinOfColor #MedicalIllustration #IIPW25 #MeaslesAwareness

First time showing at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons! 🧠
“Neurological Blueprint” — a cover design exploring how surgeons turn ideas into precision.

#Neurosurgery #MedicalIllustration #BrainArt #NeuroAnatomy #CNS2025

Detailed medical illustration showing a side view of a male figure with ghosted anatomy, highlighting the arteries within the nasal cavity. This anatomy image demonstrates vascular structures commonly involved in severe epistaxis (nosebleeds), trauma, and surgical bleeding. Educational reference for otolaryngology, ENT surgery, nasal anatomy, and vascular structures of the head and neck. © 2025 Hrejsa Medical Media

#nasalarteries #epistaxis #nosebleedsurgery #ENT #otolaryngology #nasalcavityvascular #headandneck #medicalillustration #surgicalanatomy #nasaltrauma

Visualizing GLP-1: A Chart That Centers Science and the Patient

This is one of the pieces I submitted to the AMI salon this year—an anatomical chart about GLP-1.

GLP-1 drugs are everywhere right now, but a lot of people don’t really know how they work. This chart breaks down the molecular action, effects on body systems, common side effects, injection sites, and clears up a few common myths.

The main image is still celebrating the beauty and happiness of a full-figured woman. She is seeking GLP-1 treatment for medical reasons not for beauty reasons, she is already beautiful. Her smile is radiating. The inner ghosted silhouette hints at the weight loss effects that may be achieved, but is not the main focus.

My first mockup had a thin woman with a faded outline of her past self. I think we can all agree that the final version is the one that shines.

Illustrated for Body Scientific International, © 2024 Body Scientific International.

#GLP1 #MedicalIllustration #AnatomyArt #PatientEducation #ScienceCommunication #Anatomicalchart #Largebodied #Weightloss

You all liked my last custom Adobe Illustrator brush post, so here’s another fun one.

I was captivated by the intriguing world of coelacanths—a creature that has inhabited the oceans for over 400 million years and still exists today!

When working with reptile and fish scale textures, adding a flat pattern creates a flat piece. Instead, I created a custom art brush in Adobe Illustrator that stretches along a path. By using the width tool, I was able to control the thickness and achieve a more natural flow.

The tail required some additional effort; I had to adjust it by hand because the scales get tighter and smaller towards the end of the tail.

I’m really happy with how it turned out! 🐟

#adobeillustrator #illustratorbrush #scientificillustration #coelacanth #vectorart #processshare #custombrush #scaletexture #fishillustration

Art Style Glow Up

I used to think I had everything figured out after earning my master’s in biovisualization, but I quickly realized I didn’t. Every drawing teaches me something new, and each piece I create influences my approach to art.

You grow by sketching, observing others, and sharing your work—even when it’s imperfect. My style has evolved quickly; I appreciate where it is now, but I know I will outgrow it again. That’s the purpose of this journey.

Keep pushing forward. Keep drawing. Share what you learn.

#artstyleglowup #medicalillustration #artstyle #keepdrawing #visuallearning

Consider these AI-generated images of an anatomical heart. It resembles an anatomical heart illustration from a science book published in 1884. Since the reference heart graphic is in the public domain, anyone can use it freely without concerns about copyright infringement. As a result, many individuals who are not artists often search for free images to incorporate into their products. This particular heart graphic has become quite popular on print-on-demand items such as tote bags, t-shirts, posters, mugs, and more.

It would be ideal if artificial intelligence training began by analyzing an image's metadata to determine its copyright status and only trained on public domain images. However, that is not the case. Most likely, because of the vast number of images available on platforms like Google Images, any search for "anatomical heart" will predominantly feature this one specific image. As a result, this particular image significantly influences how artificial intelligence averages heart images when creating its own variations.

#AnatomyArt #MedicalAccuracy #DontLetBadIllustrationsHappen #AIvsHuman #HireAProfessional #HeartAnatomy

See that massive herniated disc at L5/S1 in this MRI? Unfortunately, this MRI belongs to me.

If you're wondering why I've been quiet recently, it's because I'm recovering from a herniated disc and a microdiscectomy to remove the damaged tissue.

Simply put, you can think of the disc as a squishy jelly donut that provides shock absorption between the bones of the spine. Unfortunately, my jelly leaked and squirted out the back.

Once the initial shock of my MRI results subsided, I decided to illustrate my experience as a reminder of what I've overcome. The herniation was quite significant. A herniation larger than 10 mm is considered large; mine measured 19 mm! That's about the size of a peanut M&M, which was pressing on my nerve roots in the spinal canal. No wonder I had shooting pain down the back of my left thigh.

Now, seven weeks post-op, I'm finally on the other side. While small herniations or bulges can heal on their own through a process known as resorption, it’s important not to rely solely on hope and wishful thinking for healing. It's essential to find a skilled surgeon and get proper treatment.

Trust me—when your jelly donut explodes, you’ll wish you took your spine health more seriously.

#MedicalIllustration #HerniatedDisc #SpineHealth #PatientEducation #Sciatica

🌟 Did you know that kids can get kidney stones too? 😲💧 I created some helpful images for the Pediatrics Surgery department at the Medical College of Wisconsin & Children’s Wisconsin, showing how kidney stone removal works. It’s all about spreading awareness and providing comfort to parents. #KidneyHealth #HealthyKids #PediatricSurgery
© Medical College of Wisconsin & Children’s Wisconsin

In addition to medical illustration, I spent a lot of time sketching the human figure this year. After attending the Andrew Cawrse Anatomy workshop in February, I felt inspired to stick with regular sketching exercises. Short on time, I often brought my sketchbook to the softball or baseball fields and sketched between innings. Figure drawing is something I need more practice with, and I’m committed to improving. Maybe by the end of 2025, I’ll be a master at it!

#FigureDrawing #AnatomyArt #SketchPractice #artvsartist #artvsartist2024 #yearendreview #growth

2024 has been the year of focusing on maternal health and celebrating diversity in my work as a medical illustrator. At Body Scientific International, I worked on a series of patient education charts covering topics in maternal health. This pushed me to refine my skills in chart composition. Each individual piece stands out on its own.

Artwork created for Body Scientific International. © 2024 Body Scientific International, LLC.

#MaternalHealth #MedicalIllustration #DiversityInArt #artvsartist #artvsartist2024 #yearendreview #growth

Are you on the hunt for the perfect gift for the talented medical illustrator in your life? Whether it’s for a cherished friend, a dedicated boss, an inspiring mentor, a promising mentee, or even a treat for yourself, finding the perfect gift can be challenging. While there isn't just one go-to book for medical illustration, I'm excited to share three amazing titles that have played a pivotal role in my journey as a medical illustrator:

THE ART - "Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter" by James Gurney
THE ANATOMY - "Anatomy for Sculptors: Understanding the Human Figure" by Uldis Zarins and Sandis Kondrats
THE PROCESS - "Building Science Graphics" by Jen Christiansen

Any good books that you would recommend?

#MedicalIllustration #GiftIdeas #CreativeInspiration #AnatomyArt #ScienceVisualization #BookRecommendations #BookLover #NonFictionBooks

How is this NOT a connection?! 😭 (New York Times game Connections) Anyone who knows anatomy must have tried this combo. (The ossicles plus the eardrum: structures of the middle ear!) #sciencenerd #anatomist

Read about my experience working on The Foundation and Art of Robotic Surgery with the Body Scientific International team in my new post https://www.hrejsa.com/post/the-foundation-and-art-of-robotic-surgery

#SurgicalIllustrations
#RoboticSurgery
#MedicalIllustration
#AnatomicalArt
#SurgicalAtlas
#BiomedicalVisualization
#TrocarPlacement
#PatientPositioning
#MedicalArt
#AnatomyIllustration
#SurgicalPrecision
#AnatomicalDiversity
#SurgeryArt
#AwardWinningIllustrations
#MedicalPublishing
#SurgicalEducation
#IllustrationInScience
#AnatomyArt
#HealthIllustration
#bodyscientificinternational

“Designing Patient-Specific Anatomical Models for Surgical Planning in Orthopedic Oncology”. Simply put, it’s 3D-printing tumors. This tool is invaluable for surgeons, allowing them to practice and plan every step before the surgery, ensuring there are no surprises in the operating room. #ami2024

The 2nd Annual Dog Show, the worst of the worst! 🤣 a showcase of bad medical illustrations. #ami2024

Lisa Bailey, author of Clay and Bones: My Life as an FBI Forensic Artist, showing off her own skull, which she used to create one of her earliest facial approximations. If you loved this keynote presentation, I recommend listening to her episode as a guest on the Medical Illustration Podcast. #ami2024

If you were wondering what these silly drawings were displayed at the AMI Opening Salon, it was from the morning workshop Sketching the Natural World at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. We were tasked to create chimeras, work on a portion of a drawing and pass on the rendering to someone else. #ami2024 #ami2024sketch

A fun day sketching with fellow illustrators at the AMI Workshop: Sketching the Natural World at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. End of day sketchbook sharing #ami2024sketch #ami2024

Sketching at the RMSC (Rochester Museum & Science Center) for the AMI workshop Sketching the Natural World. #ami2024sketch #ami2024

Touching up my museum sketches during lunch break #AMI2024sketch #AMI2024

I match Adobe Red! Decided to check out the Adobe Create Now Chicago Event. I was already aware of the “new” features they shared in Firefly and generative AI in Photoshop and Illustrator. However, Adobe Express was new to me. And I ran into a friend! As big of a city as Chicago is, the illustrator community is small, you’ll always find a familiar face. 🤗

Team BodySci lunch! (Minus boss man Marcelo) it was so good to see everyone, especially Dalena and Odelia whom I had only interacted with online! From Left Esther, Odelia, Dalena, Carol (me), Monica, and Lik. #bodyscientificinternational

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