The state and significance of inclusive medical illustrations in medical education

Medical illustration is remarkable for its lack of diversity in representing human bodies and medical conditions. Historically and at present, medical illustrations predominantly feature a white, male, able-bodied, and young subset of the patient population. These illustrations are not representative of the patient population of the United States of America (U.S.). This review comments on the present state of medical illustration in medical education in the U.S. We suggest that medical illustration can be a valuable tool in countering medical learners’ biases, incorporating ethical considerations and the values of the biopsychosocial model, and correcting assumptions and stereotypes about patients that are the products of medical schools’ hidden and conscripted curricula. This discussion considers the impacts of medical illustration’s current state on creators, utilizers, and consumers while also proposing advancements that will likely benefit each cohort. We discuss ongoing initiatives focused on inclusive medical illustrations and recommend building on current efforts to incorporate comprehensive images into undergraduate and graduate medical curricula.