Working in clinical photography
As a clinical photographer, you will usually work in a medical illustration department as part of the healthcare team working closely with doctors, healthcare scientists, nurses and other healthcare professionals associated with the delivery of care.
You will be hospital-based and will usually work in a studio or within clinics, operating theatres or on the wards.
If you work in clinical photography you will be providing essential professional and cost-effective photographic and graphic services for use in patient care, medical education and research.
You'll be responsible for providing photographic and other visual records of patients and pathological materials. These provide valuable aids in early diagnosis or for confirming the effective treatment of disease.
If you work in clinical photography, you'll use specialised techniques. For example in ophthalmic imaging, you'll use fluorescein angiography (which is used to delineate retinal blood vessels) and the production of images for treatment planning in craniofacial surgery and surgical audit.
In small medical illustration departments, you might have a broader range of responsibilities and duties. So in addition to clinical photography, you might use basic graphic design skills, e.g. in the production of audio-visual teaching/lecture material, artwork for scientific posters and patient information, or design and layout for annual reports and other corporate material. In larger medical illustration departments you might work alongside and in collaboration with graphic designers and video producers who will undertake this work.
In addition to having an understanding of anatomy, you must show evidence of technical expertise. You may need to use particular skills creatively (such as lighting or composition) to depict some conditions effectively. It is also important to have good written and verbal communication skills as well as the ability to accept high levels of responsibility.
You must also have a sympathetic and professional attitude when dealing with patients and family/carers who may feel especially vulnerable.
To work in clinical photography you will need effective communication and team working skills. You will also need to be confident with technology and systems/processes.
If you work in a role with responsibility for resources (such as staff, budgets or equipment) you must have good leadership skills and be able to use your initiative within the remit of your job role.
Healthcare science staff often work at the forefront of research and innovation, so that patients are continually receiving the very best healthcare.
Entry points and requirements
To qualify as a clinical photographer you will be required to hold a degree in photography and a post graduate certificate in clinical photography. If you have a degree in photography, you can apply for a post as a trainee clinical photographer
You will normally take the post-graduate course in clinical photography on a distance learning basis, while working in a post as a trainee clinical photographer. On completion of your training you will be eligible to join the voluntary register of the Committee for the Accreditation of Medical Illustration Practitioners (CAMIP).
Alternatively, you can do the three year full-time BSc (Hons) course in clinical photography - which is currently run only by the University of Westminster.
Graphic designers can also do a graduate or post-graduate certificate in graphic design for health.
Further details of the routes available and courses in medical illustration and clinical photography can be found on the Institute of Medical Illustrators website
Training and education programmes
Programmes are often supported by the development of workplace-based assessment tools, assessment of equivalent learning and the development of academic careers.
Staffordshire University offers courses with accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL). A graduate certificate is available for those without a degree but who have substantial experience in photography/graphic design. Those with a good degree usually take a postgraduate certificate.
No matter what level you are working at, as part of your development you will be expected to do 'Continuing Professional Development' (CPD) to show that you are keeping yourself up to date with the policies, procedures and new technologies in your area of work.
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