At Johns Hopkins, medical illustration began with the arrival, in 1894, of Max Brödel, a young German artist from Leipzig, Germany. He had illustrated for Carl Ludwig in the famous Institute of Physiology at the University of Leipzig. There Brödel met American scientists who were studying under Ludwig. Later, one of these, anatomist Franklin P. Mall, urged young Brödel to join him at the new Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Circumstances altered plans and upon arrival in Baltimore Brödel was quickly employed by Howard A. Kelly, Chief of Gynecology, as his illustrator for a two-volume textbook, Operative Gynecology. Other books followed, some with co-authors, on subjects as diverse as the vermiform appendix and diseases of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Aside from texts, journal articles, and monographs, Kelly and Brödel united in their efforts to advance the state of surgery and health care in America, especially in diseases of women. When time permitted, Brödel illustrated for other Hopkins physicians and surgeons, expanding his knowledge of anatomy, pathology, and physiology. For further information, please visit the Brödel Archives section of our web site.

In 1911, when Kelly retired as Chief of Gynecology, Brödel was left without consistent long-term illustration work. To keep this outstanding illustrator at Hopkins his close friend, Dr. Thomas Cullen, conceived of a department where Brödel could train students in the necessary knowledge and skills to become medical illustrators. Cullen’s search for funding ended when Henry Walters, a Baltimore financier, philanthropist, and art collector, agreed to support the venture. Eventually Walters provided an endowment which created the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine. It opened in 1911 with Max Brödel as its Director. Since that date there have been three other directors: James F. Didusch 1940-1943; Ranice W. Crosby 1943-1983; and Gary P. Lees 1983-present.

When the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) became a reality, the majority of charter members had graduated from the Hopkins program. Between 1941 and 1952, eight of nine similar programs in the United States and Canada were directed by Brödel-trained medical illustrators.

The need for increased communication in health sciences prompted additional training in photography, medical models, and exhibit production. This necessitated increasing the program to three years. Eventually, the significance and strength of the program advanced it to the graduate level. In 1959, the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine was approved by the University Graduate Board to offer the degree of Master of Arts in Medical and Biological Illustration. Entrance requirements were increased and a two-year curriculum was established. The Hopkins program was first accredited in October, 1970, with continued accreditation to date.

Medical illustration with all of its communication components and continually-evolving production technologies remains a vital discipline at JHMI. Faculty and students in this program are committed to continuing education in the medical sciences. We welcome the partnership with physicians, surgeons, and all other providers of medical and health care information to advance global medicine.

Max Brödel: the Man Who Put Art into Medicine, Ranice W. Crosby and John Cody, Springer-Verlag, 1991 Hard Bound 352 pages ISBN 0-387-97563-2

Scientific Illustration, Phyllis Wood, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1982 Hard Bound

Scientific Illustation: A Guide for the Beginning Artist, Zbigniew T. Jastrzebski, Prentice Hall, 1985 Soft Bound 319 pages ISBN 0-12-795931-1

The Artist in the Service of Science, Walter Herdeg, ed., The Graphis Press, 1973 Hard Bound 119 pages.

All artwork appearing on this page ©1999 The Johns Hopkins University.
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©1999 The Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved.
Last Revision: September 2006.