Tuesday, September 22, 2026
5:30-6:30pm
VIRTUAL ONLY - A Zoom link will be provided after registration

Good communication requires the use of multiple formats and modalities in order to be inclusive and impactful. Illustrations can convey information in ways that transcend reading ability and language barriers, and provide material for later processing of information. Additionally, the incorporation of the visual arts into medicine training and continuing education has been shown to mitigate burnout. Communication (with learners, patients and families, colleagues) is a crucial skill for physicians. Visual communication can be a big part of that, and we can all become better at it - whether actual drawings or more abstract scientific visualization, better communication makes us more compassionate, understanding caregivers. The session will cover three components: 1. How to draw (20 min). Regardless of one's abilities, some simple tools can enhance any illustration, and therefore make it clearer. Topics covered are light and shadows, texturing, outlines and transparency. 2. What to draw (20 min). Choosing a topic, a viewpoint, degree of detail (what to show and what not to show) to make the illustration as didactic as possible. 3. From sketch to narrative (20 min): The most efficient and effective way to illustrate a story, a process, a cascade, an operation: The IKEA principle and the Visual Abstract.