The BMC Speaker Series 2024 is pleased to welcome seasoned storytellers from diverse backgrounds including medical animation/illustration, surgical education, and beyond. These biomedical communication specialists will share their insights and techniques for transforming intricate subject matter into accessible visuals that captivate and enlighten audiences.
BMC student wins Vesalius Trust award for trauma visualization research
Jinny Moon, MScBMC Class of ‘26 was recognized with the 2026 Vesalius Trust Steve Harrison Award for her research into visualizing the neurobiology of trauma. Collage submitted by Jinny Moon
by Maeve Doyle
The Vesalius Trust named Jinny Moon the recipient of the 2026 Steve Harrison Award. The award recognizes and supports her research into visualizing the neurobiology of trauma.
Moon is a second-year student in the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications at the University of Toronto. She received the award for her research proposal, Translating trauma: visualizing the neurobiology of trauma for clinical and public education.
She is conducting her research under the guidance of Dr. Dana Ross who is the co-director of the Trauma Therapy Network of Ontario at Women's College Hospital in Toronto. The program focuses on expanding access to trauma-focused care and supporting both patients and healthcare providers in understanding the impacts of trauma and pathways to healing.
"Trauma has profound effects on the brain and body, yet the underlying neuroscience can be difficult to translate into everyday clinical and lived experience," says Ross. Her goal is to have this science translated into accessible, visually engaging media that improve understanding of trauma and its effects.
Moon was immediately drawn to the project.
"I've always been interested in neurobiology, human behaviour, and cognition," she says. "I've also had a long-standing interest in public health and in mental health."
Her review of existing trauma education materials found several gaps: outdated science, inconsistent visuals and a lack of technical polish. Resources were either too complicated, too simple or reinforced stigma. Few addressed neuroplasticity as a way to explain both the effects of trauma and the brain's capacity to recover.
Moon is applying visual design principles to develop a user-centred online education module. It includes still images and a 2D animation that incorporates a visual metaphor to show how new practices and habits can help build and shape new response pathways.
"If the hospital's platform can support it, there will also be interactive diagrams with clickable hotspots," she says.
"Jinny is producing work that is both scientifically rigorous and deeply considered for its audience," says Professor Shehyrar Saharan, Moon’s supervisor. "I'm really happy that Jinny won. She really deserved it."
Moon says she felt both validated and humbled when she learned that she had received the Steve Harrison Award. "It was encouraging to know others recognized how important the work is and its impact for the audience it serves."
Saharan says that Moon is also preparing a detailed, annotated pictorial account of her process for publication. "This will be a valuable contribution to the biomedical visualization community," he says.
Moon continues to refine the animation, illustrations and narrative elements of her project to create a cohesive learning experience.
She hopes to see the work's integration into the Women's College Hospital's e-learning platform Trauma PORTAL for patients and their CARE training programs for healthcare professionals.
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Web sites referenced
Jinny Moon’s online portfolio https://www.jinnymoon.ca
Announcement: Vesalius Trust 2026 student award winners https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/news-events/2026/4/2/vesalius-trust-2026-student-award-winners
Women’s College Hospital’s Trauma Portal https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/care-programs/mental-health/trauma-therapy-program/
Women’s College Hospital’s CARE training programs https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/care-programs/mental-health/trauma-therapy-program/
BMC student shares passion for medical illustration with eager audience
Collage of photos from medical illustration workshop for McMaster University undergraduates. Provided by Ravneet Jaura
Ravneet Jaura, a student in the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications program at the University of Toronto held a medical illustration workshop at McMaster University on March 3, 2026 at the invitation of the McMaster Kinesiology Society.
In the workshop, Ravneet demonstrated her creative process by guiding the attendees through a step-by-step drawing exercise to show key principles such as perspective, line weight, shading and layout. The second-year student designed and created a new original drawing specifically for the activity.
Ravneet also spoke on her academic experience in the Biomedical Communications program including her courses, critiques, and extra-curriculars such as freelancing, co-directing the IMS Magazine design team and serving as a teaching assistant.
"The students had such a positive experience and so many of them discussed how much more interested they were in this field now," said Ravneet.
For more of Ravneet's work, follow her on Instagram @artby_reetu.
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Web sites referenced
Ravneet Jaura’s online portfolio https://www.ravneetjaura.com
Ravneet Jaura’s Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/artby_reetu/
BMC student creates illustrated resource for caregivers
Emily Huang, MScBMC ‘25, in collaboration with the Caregiver Clinic at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, created an illustrated workbook designed to support caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Image provided by Emily Huang.
by Maeve Doyle
Caregivers often put aside their own emotional and mental health when caring for patients with advanced cancer.
To address this challenge, Emily Huang, a 2025 graduate of the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications program at the University of Toronto, worked with the Caregiver Clinic at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Huang created an illustrated workbook designed to support caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.
The workbook, titled CALM for Caregivers: An Illustrated Workbook for Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer, was developed by the Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) team at Princess Margaret.
"As part of my master's research project, I transformed CALM's text content into engaging illustrations and graphic narratives to resonate with a caregiver’s lived experience,” Huang says. “Through thoughtful and collaborative design, I created an intuitive workbook that adapts to a caregiver's lifestyle."
Shelley Wall, MScBMC associate director and Huang’s faculty advisor says that “digesting dozens of pages of purely textual information can be daunting, especially for caregivers who are under stress. Emily has used her gift for visual storytelling and design to translate the CALM team's document into a truly welcoming resource that's easy to navigate."
The illustrated workbook is divided into five sections. Each section contains informative cancer content, graphic narrative-based caregiver stories, reflection worksheets, questionnaires, and more. Caregivers can work through the information in any order–as and when they need it–and at their own pace.
Huang says that CALM for Caregivers is now available as a free online resource for caregivers worldwide. The workbook can be accessed on the UHN Princess Margaret Cancer Centre web site:
https://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/Clinics/Caring_for_the_Caregiver#tab5
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Web sites referenced:
Emily Huang's online portfolio: https://www.emilyhuang.ca
UHN Caring for the Caregiver: https://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/Clinics/Caring_for_the_Caregiver#tab5
Shelley Wall’s faculty profile: https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/#wall
BMC 80–Speaker Series 2025: Ian Suk, Professor of Neurological Surgery and Art as Applied to Medicine, Johns Hopkins University
Ian Suk, BScBMC ‘93
Illustrating complex cases: Practical pearls, and working in academia
In this presentation, Ian Suk will discuss some of the best and most ubiquitous pearls and techniques used in medical illustration, and demonstrate them through comprehensive clinical and scientific published case examples. Through a series of slides, Ian will show how he renders extremely complex imagery using a step-by-step process. He will also highlight some current ‘in progress’ projects to show students his workflow. Ian will also touch on his personal journey in working for institutions, as well as hold an open discussion about full-time employment in the academic field.
Date: July 11, 2025
Time: 2 to 3 p.m.
Location: Graduate Studio HB 317, Terrence Donnelly Health Sciences Complex, University of Toronto Mississauga
Webinar Registration Link: https://forms.gle/RS4bJxjsKRWnQBmeA
2025 BMC speaker series full program: https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/news-events/2025/01/29/bmc80-speaker-series-2025
Ian Suk, BScBMC ‘93.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iansuk/
Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine: https://medicalart.johnshopkins.edu
Medical Illustration Podcast marks 80 years of biomedical visualization at the University of Toronto
Host Paul F Kelly, MScBMC Class of '11 has released a special episode of the Medical Illustration Podcast to mark the 80th anniversary of the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications program.
Available now! https://www.pkvisualization.com/post/medical-illustration-podcast-biomedical-communications-80th-anniversary
Special BMC80 podcast–coming in June!
THE MEDICAL ILLUSTRATION PODCAST PRESENTS: TORONTO BMC PROGRAM 80TH ANNIVERSARY
Topics: Education | Industry Training | Graduate Program History
The Master of Science in Biomedical Communications at the University of Toronto continuously evolves to meet the ever-changing needs of science communication. In this special episode of the Medical Illustration Podcast, host Paul Kelly sits down with Director and Associate Professor Michael Corrin and Associate Director and Associate Professor Shelley Wall for an in-depth conversation on the program’s rich history, key milestones, and lasting impact. They share insights into their roles in shaping BMC through academic leadership, curriculum development, student mentorship, and research oversight. Don’t miss this fascinating look at how BMC has grown into a powerhouse in visual science communication!
Release Date: June 1, 2025
Paul Kelly is a professional certified medical illustrator working in Toronto, Canada, at TVASurg (Toronto Video Atlas of Surgery). He specializes in 3D animation and video editing for teaching surgery. The Medical Illustration Podcast is an audio resource for those interested in the field of medical illustration, featuring interviews with seasoned professionals, and industry updates.
Return to BMC80 main page.
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Web sites referenced:
Medical Illustration Podcast: https://www.pkvisualization.com/blog/categories/podcast
Paul Kelly’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-kelly-3989831b/?originalSubdomain=ca
Michael Corrin’s Faculty Profile https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/#corrin
Shelley Wall’s Faculty Profile https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/#wall
TVASurg web site https://pie.med.utoronto.ca/TVASurg/
BMC80 main page: https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/bmc80
BMC Alumni Association Gala: celebrate 80 years in May!
Join fellow alumni, students, faculty, and friends for an unforgettable afternoon filled with delicious food and drinks, fun activities, exciting prizes, and photo ops. Reconnect with familiar faces, make new connections, and toast to the rich history and bright future of the BMC program.
📅 Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
🕐 Time: 12:00 – 5:00 PM EST
📍 Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda, University of Toronto Mississauga Campus
🎟️ Tickets:
Early Bird (May 7–17): $30
Regular (May 18–24): $40
Complimentary parking for the first 10 ticket buyers — eligible guests will be contacted directly. (Parking is also available for purchase in lots P4, P8 and P9.)
👗 Dress Code: Cocktail attire / Semi-formal
RSVP HERE to take advantage of early bird pricing!
We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with you. Let’s raise a toast to 80 amazing years of BMC!
Alumni Gala brought to you by the BMCAA Executive Committee. The BMCAA is generously sponsored by:
Return to BMC80 main page.
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Web sites referenced
Biomedical Communications Alumni Association (BMCAA) https://www.bmcaa.com
BMC80 main page https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/bmc80
Visitor Parking Fees: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/parking/visitor-parking-0
UTM Campus Map: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/media/11507/download?inline
Eventbrite link to register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bmcaa-annual-gala-2025-tickets-1355778583239?aff=oddtdtcreator
BMC80 Anatomical illustration challenge–now until May 30
Illustration Credits: Shehryar (Shay) Saharan (Arteries of the Face & Scalp), Dave Mazierski (Camel Anatomy, Superficial Nerves and Blood Vessels), and Maria Torrence Wishart (Knee Surgery)
The Anatomical Illustration Challenge is a community-driven event celebrating 80 years of BMC! This is your chance to showcase your anatomical illustration skills while honouring the rich history and exciting future of BMC as a leader in medical illustration.
Create a new, original illustration, information graphic, animation, comic or any other media type that features human or animal anatomy. Let your creativity shine!
Deadline: May 30, 2025 (Aligned with the AMI Salon Deadline 👀)
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Create a new, original illustration, information graphic, animation, or any other visual media that features human or animal anatomy. This could include anything from anatomical cross-sections, microscopic processes and surgical scenes, to comparative anatomy studies. Let your creativity shine!
Maybe you're:
Looking for motivation to create a new portfolio piece
Preparing a submission for the AMI Salon
Working toward your CMI certification
Trying out a new medium or technique (e.g., gouache, ZBrush, After Effects, etc.)
Revisiting an old sketch or concept you’ve always wanted to refine
Or maybe you just miss illustrating anatomy and want to reconnect with what brought you into this field...
Have fun with it—we can’t wait to see what you create! 🚀
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This challenge is open to all BMCers, including alumni, current students, and faculty.
We welcome individual, group, and studio submissions—so whether you're working solo or collaborating, we encourage you to participate!
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Submit your piece here! We are channeling our inner Linda Wilson-Pauwels—so remember to sign your work!
This goes without saying, but all participants retain all rights to their work. Submissions will only be used to promote the event and celebrate our community’s contributions!
Submission link: https://forms.gle/Jse6Zr8i6sh59uXBA
What happens next?
Your work will be printed and featured on a gallery wall at BMC until December! We’ll also create a collage image of all submissions, which will be shared on our social platforms.
Return to BMC80 main page.
Spring Critique 2025 Best in Show
by Maeve Doyle
Critique organizers and BMC faculty pose with Best in Show winners. Top right: Professor Shehryar Saharan, MScBMC ‘22 and Molly Wells, MScBMC Class of ‘25. Bottom left: Dr. Derek Ng, MScBMC ‘15 and Athena Li, MScBMC Class of ‘26.
Vivid imagery and vibrant discussion filled the Biomedical Communications' studios and hallways on April 17, 2025, as students, faculty and alumni gathered for Spring Critique.
Participants reviewed student galleries, after which they voted to name a first- and second-year student each Best in Show for their cohorts.
The winners were first-year student Athena Li and second-year student Molly Wells.
Of the pieces Li presented at the critique, she said she is most proud of the eyeball anatomy she visualized for the Show Me the Unseeable assignment in Visual Representation of Medical Knowledge.
A cross-sectional view of the human eye, highlighting its general anatomy and the structures involved in light transmission for sight. From Light to Sight by Athena Li, MScBMC Class of ‘26
"A lot of anatomical research went into this piece, which directly informed the final look of the image, and indirectly informed decisions on what structures were included, and how they were depicted. This was a stimulating and ultimately rewarding process that I had a lot of fun with," Li said.
Best in Show-Second Year winner Molly Wells is proud of several pieces she presented including Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema, an infographic she created for the course Visual Representation of Processes in Pathology.
An infographic that visualizes the micro and macro changes in the lymphatic system as a result of the edema that can occur in some cases after breast cancer treatment. Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema by Molly Wells, MScBMC Class of ‘25.
In the piece, Wells depicts micro and macro changes in the lymphatic system that may occur as a result of breast cancer treatment.
She said that she designed the piece "to help healthcare providers better prevent, identify, and treat this disease. I am proud of how I showed the lymphatic system at histological and morphological levels, and I hope that my attempts to show different scales and aspects of the disease will help people's understanding."
Spring Critique is one of two annual events where students present work created in biomedical communications courses. The critiques contribute to student professional development.
As presenters, students give oral-visual presentations designed for a live audience. They receive and document the critical feedback they receive on their work.
As audience members, they practice analysing visual communication media, and learn to offer constructive feedback.
BMC faculty Derek Ng and Shehryar Saharan introduced the Best in Show awards in Fall 2022. Saharan said the awards were created "to reward students for an incredible amount of hard work and commitment they've demonstrated to honing their skills."
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Web sites referenced
Athena Li's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athna.stomosis/
Molly Wells' online portfolio https://www.mollywellsart.ca/
Course Description MSC2001Y Visual Representation of Medical Knowledge https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/required-curriculum/#msc2001y
Course Description MSC2018H Visual Representation of Processes in Pathology https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/required-curriculum/#msc2018h
2025 Vesalius Trust Scholar announcement–Molly Wells https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/news-events/2025/3/2/vt2025-molly-wells?rq=molly%20wells
Derek Ng faculty profile https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/#ng
Shehryar Saharan faculty profile https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/#saharan