Frank Armitage Lecture Series
About The Series Heading link
Established in 2006, this annual series is held in honor of beloved medical illustrator and Disney Imagineer, Frank Armitage. Frank’s visionary work touched many lives, most well-known for his contributions to classic films such as “Sleeping Beauty,” “Mary Poppins,” and “Fantastic Voyage,” among many others. As a self-taught anatomist, Frank’s illustrations and set designs pushed the boundaries of biomedical visualization, captivating others with a sense of awe and mysterious intrigue. Frank and his family enthusiastically supported the field, donating many of his medical illustrations to the UIC Biomedical Visualization program in 2006. They are now exhibited in the Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences. In 2019, an endowed scholarship in his name was established for students in the program.
Each year, this lecture series celebrates his legacy by featuring a keynote speaker who is an innovator in their field, pushing the boundaries into the unknown and inspiring countless others, just like Frank did.
The 2025 Frank Armitage Lecture Heading link
The 2025 Frank Armitage Lecture occurred March 6, 2025 and honored visual innovators in biomedicine. It featured lectures by Natalie Doolittle, MS, Medical Illustrator and Armitage’s granddaughter, as well as Certified Clinical Anaplastologist Suzanne Verma, MAMS, CCA.
Natalie Doolittle gave a 25-minute talk on Frank Armitage which was followed by the 50 minute keynote Anaplastology: Guided by Innovation, Driven by Compassion presented by Suzanne Verma.
To view a recording of the lecture, email Sam Bond at sbond7@uic.edu.
About the Keynote Anaplastology: Guided by Innovation, Driven by Compassion
Anaplastology is the art and science of restoring a malformed or absent part of the body through artificial means. Patients seeking rehabilitation may have a facial difference by congenital origin or acquired through trauma or surgical resection. Treatment with a facial prosthesis can not only improve function and esthetics but can also provide the patient with psychosocial healing and a renewed sense of self-esteem.
Digital technologies have made a substantial shift in the way anaplastologists conceptualize and provide prosthetic reconstruction. Computer-driven systems have enabled 3D imaging, simulation planning, surgical navigation, and 3D printing, improving patient treatment worldwide with accuracy and efficiency. This presentation discussed the applications of advanced technology, and future directions of the field of Anaplastology.
Meet the Speakers Heading link
Meet the Speakers
Natalie Doolittle, MS
Natalie Doolittle, MS
Natalie earned her MS in Biomedical Visualization from UIC in 2013. As the VP of 3D Content at BioDigital, she leads the production strategy for an interactive platform that improves anatomy and health education with a cloud-based solution. She is dedicated to building content, products, and culture that matters.
Suzanne Verma, MAMS, CCA
Suzanne Verma, MAMS, CCA
Certified Clinical Anaplastologist
Advanced Prosthetic Restorations
Suzanne Verma is a certified clinical Anaplastologist specializing in facial prosthetic rehabilitation with Advanced Prosthetic Restorations in Dallas, Texas. Prior to opening her private practice, Mrs. Verma served as clinical Anaplastologist and Assistant Professor with the Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at Texas A&M College of Dentistry for 17 years. Her teaching responsibilities include courses for the dental students, graduate prosthodontic residents, and Biomedical Science PhD candidates. Suzanne received her Bachelors in Biological Pre-Medical Illustration from Iowa State University, and a Masters in Biomedical Visualization, with a concentration in Anaplastology from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Her clinical experiences include UIC’s Craniofacial Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, The Maxillofacial Unit of Morriston Hospital in Swansea, Wales, UK, and COMPRU (now IRSM) in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Her research interests on which she has lectured both nationally and internationally include Applications of navigational surgery in extra oral implant placement and Incorporations of advanced technology in craniofacial reconstruction. Mrs. Verma is an active member of numerous field-oriented associations, Past President of the International Anaplastology Association and past Vice President of the Board for Certification in Clinical Anaplastology. Suzanne is a Vesalius Trust scholarship recipient and received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award for Iowa State University.
Donate to the Frank Armitage Scholarship Heading link
The scholarship is awarded to students in the biomedical visualization program in honor of medical illustrator and Disney Imagineer Frank Armitage.