Growing up, I always had what seemed to be a conflicting inclination for science and a love for creation…

…whether it was painting, sketching, or even making YouTube videos, and wondered how I could combine art with my passion for science. Throughout high school, I took various art classes, helped paint play and musical sets, and was the president of my school’s chapter of the National Art Honors Society (NHS) by my senior year. I was also in my school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program until the end of my junior year (I ultimately dropped the program because it didn’t allow me to take AP Studio Art my senior year).

Despite my obvious desire to explore both, I was told to keep my passion for art as a hobby and pursue science. So I did exactly that, as I was originally on an accelerated pharmacy school track in undergrad - but outside of classes, you would still find me drawing or painting something big. In 2019, I decided to switch so I could instead graduate with my B.S. in Biology in 2021 and I’m so happy I did. I found out about the field of medical illustration shortly after due to encouragement from my professor and senior mentor.

In 2024, I graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with a Masters of Science in Biomedical Visualization. Looking back, I’m so happy I went with my gut and always strived to pursue both of my passions - otherwise, who knows how much longer it would’ve taken me to find out about the field!