Cohort of 2026

Samuel (Sam) Diaz was born and raised in Venezuela and he has always had a passion for the visual arts, which currently manifests in digital illustration. Having emigrated to the US in 2019 and originally planning to be a pre-med student, he enrolled in Brandeis University to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience and Biology, and had the opportunity to work in multiple areas of healthcare, including pharmacy, art therapy, surgery, and dentistry.

Upon finding out about the field of medical illustration as a freshman, he pursued a minor in Studio Art, focusing on visual storytelling surrounding the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis. Throughout the years, Sam has been focusing on creating traditional and digital illustrations, as well as a long-running webcomic. Much of his other artwork tends to relate to video games, anime, and other nerdy things.

Emily was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Western Washington University with a BS in Kinesiology, concentrating in the Pre-Healthcare Professions Specialization. At Western, she developed a strong foundation in human anatomy, physiology, and movement science. After graduation, she worked as a rehabilitation aide in a variety of clinical environments, deepening her passion for medicine and patient-focused care.

Art has always been a significant part of her life. She has participated in local art shows and remained active in her community art center. When she discovered medical illustration, she was thrilled to find a field that combined her scientific background and lifelong interest in art. Emily is excited to join the BVIS program and hopes to help bridge the gap between complex information and diverse audiences. She is also interested in BVIS’s anaplastology emphasis and the ways medical illustrators can directly support patient care through restorative design.

Outside of studying, you can find Emily baking, watching reality TV, or exploring Chicago with her two dogs and partner.

Cecil Ebiwok is a born and raised Nigerian, who moved to the United States in 2013. He would attend Mira Loma High School in Sacramento, CA. and later attend American River college for 2 years before transferring to San Jose State University. Graduating in 2022, he acquired his Undergraduate degree from San Jose State University, majoring in General biology and minoring in Chemistry. He would do so, while competing on the track and field team and serving on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as the first ever Creative Executive.

Siena Gross is originally from Southern California and earned her B.S. in Neurobiology from the University of California, San Diego. Throughout her undergraduate education, she pursued a pre-medical path and developed a strong passion for science, medicine, and research. While participating in global health and clinical experiences, she discovered the field of medical illustration and became fascinated by the ability of visual communication to make complex scientific concepts more accessible. Inspired by this intersection of art and science, she began further developing her artistic skills and pursuing opportunities in biomedical visualization.

Siena has a particular interest in surgical illustration and enjoys translating complex procedures into clear, engaging visuals. Through the BVIS program, she hopes to continue exploring surgical visualization while expanding her skills across other areas of biomedical communication.

Outside of illustration, Siena enjoys yoga, dance, hiking, live music, trying new restaurants, and exploring new places.

Kristin Javate is from St. Petersburg, Florida, and is a graduate of Florida State University with a BS in Biology. During her undergraduate years, Kristin partook in psychology research and virology research exploring Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus. Alongside her studies, she danced with The Tallahassee Ballet as a part of the corps de ballet, together with teaching ballet and dancing with various dance crews.

Beyond graduation, Kristin studied as an apprentice at the Miano Academy of Art Atelier training
in classical realism. Instilling the painterly techniques of drawing, learning about the old masters, as well as exploring the entrepreneurial side of fine arts, Kristin has gained confidence in the traditional craft and looks forward to integrating the niches of science and art.

In the BVIS program Kristin is excited to expand upon her technical training and develop her voice within biomedical communication. She is particularly interested in conveying medical topics to inform clinical, academic, and patient audiences through illustration. Outside of academia, Kristin enjoys dancing, working as a barista, drawing from life, and exploring the city.

Danielle Kogan was raised in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. She attended the University of Vermont, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with minors in Studio Art and Applied Design in 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she worked for UVM BORED, creating content and building partnerships with local organizations to increase student access to campus engagement opportunities. Following graduation, Danielle worked as a Social Marketing Specialist for Gardener’s Supply Company and Gardens Alive brands, where she developed organic, paid, and influencer marketing campaigns.

Through the BVIS program, she is looking to learn how to create inclusive illustrations for public health and patient education initiatives. She also hopes to develop work that helps clinicians better understand patient experiences, such as those with chronic health conditions. In the future, she aspires to teach in higher education and the medical humanities, contributing to a more equitable and human-centered approach to healthcare training and communication. Danielle has been a member of the AMI since 2022 and currently serves on both the Diversity Committee and the Social Media & Outreach Committee.

In her free time, Danielle enjoys cooking, attending figure drawing sessions, and gardening.

Torrey Kridel is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Through a chance encounter in high school, she discovered medical illustration and immediately knew that was meant to be her path. In 2025 she graduated with a BS in Biology and BA in Studio Art. During her undergrad Torrey worked with the Furman University Natural History Collections to create a field guide for the campus. The process of illustrating native plants, animals, and insects solidified her career choice. As a senior Torrey was selected as one of five students for the Furman Fellows Grant Program, through which she organized an undergraduate juried art show for students wanting to combine art with another field of study.

Having been primarily trained in oil painting, Torrey is excited to begin diving into the world of digital art. She has spent the last year working for a local yarn store, running social media and building their website. Beyond school, Torrey loves going to art museums, journaling, cross-stitching, knitting, and exploring every coffee shop she can find.

My name is Kamryn Krishnan and I’m from Knoxville, TN. I attended the University of Georgia for undergrad, and that’s where I learned about their scientific illustration program. I graduated with my BFA in scientific illustration in 2024 and was very interested in going into medical illustration in the future. Throughout undergrad, I loved volunteering at my local homeless shelter teaching kids art. I became a studio manager post grad at a kid’s art studio where I taught as well as developed the curriculum for a wide range of ages and classes. I hope to bring that knowledge into my work in the BVIS program! My favorite mediums are graphite and Adobe Photoshop, but I also love experimenting with ceramics, oil painting, and printmaking. Outside of school and work, I love being outdoors. Hiking, walking, camping, and traveling (especially road tripping) are my all-time favorite things to do.

Fei grew up on the north side of Chicago and earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UIC in 2017. Early in her teaching career, she developed an interest in scientific illustration, and art naturally became a significant part of both her learning and teaching style. She taught in Chicago Public Schools for six years and eventually began volunteering at UI Health alongside her work as an educator, which gave her a new perspective on the connection between education and healthcare.

Her volunteer work led to a role as a lab technologist in the Maxillofacial Prosthetics Department at the Craniofacial Center, where she worked primarily in anaplastology and ocularistry. Through this experience, she discovered a passion for patient care and explored how art and technology can work together to advance healthcare worldwide.

Kennedy Miracle grew up in Pineville, KY in rural Appalachia. She completed her B.A. in Biology and Art Studio with a minor in Art History at the University of Kentucky in 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she was an active member of Phi Sigma Rho, an engineering-centered sorority that had expanded to include broader STEM majors. Originally intending to pursue medical school with a specific interest in pathology, she eventually set her sights on medical illustration after discovering it during her freshman year. This coupled her lifelong artistic interests with her passion for biology into a dream career. During her final year in undergrad, she was able to partner with a nursing professor to create a medical board game; this experience further cemented her choice to pursue the career and the BVIS program.

In her professional endeavors, Kennedy is hoping to pursue 3D modeling alongside both traditional and digital illustration. She has a particular interest in veterinary illustration and hopes to learn more about this sub-field as well. During her time in the BVIS program, Kennedy particularly hopes to learn how to foster accessibility through medical visualization, wanting to educate underfunded and rural communities like the one she grew up in.

When Kennedy is not attending class, one is likely to find her walking various trails, trying a new cafe or tea spot, playing video games, or having a quiet night in with her cat Silo.

Annabel Multer is originally from Chicago, Illinois. Inspired by her parents’ artistic backgrounds, she chose to pursue a career in the arts and attended Northern Illinois University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Art in the spring of 2026. After discovering the field of medical illustration during her sophomore year, she dedicated the remainder of her undergraduate education to preparing for a career in the profession, focusing on creating editorial illustrations in traditional media, refining her figure drawing skills, and expanding her scientific knowledge. Annabel’s appreciation for anatomical accuracy and data visualization led her to the BVIS program. She is excited to further expand her skill set in both the arts and sciences to become a meaningful contributor to the field of medical illustration.

Starr was raised in Minnesota and moved to Illinois where they attended Loyola University Chicago, earning a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. They focused their undergraduate research on the potential effects of long-term HRT on brain function, and recognized how visuals could better foster understanding in complex topics.

Having enjoyed creating art for their whole life, they were happy to create physiology manipulatives for multiple anatomy & physiology courses at a community college while being a lab teaching assistant there.

At BVIS, Starr hopes to learn more about anaplastology, as well as interactive media and game development for education. They look forward to applying the skills learned at BVIS to help people become more self-assured in themselves, whether that be through prostheses or knowledge gained for better decision-making.

Outside of school and work, Starr enjoys spending time with family, playing TTRPGs with friends, writing stories, and enjoying the outdoors.

Marissa is from the Kansas City area, and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Visual Art.

She’s always been interested in education, and was originally an art education major. During Covid, she took a break from college to teach at a preschool for visually impaired children. While there, she gained experience with creating accessible materials and environments.

She didn’t learn that Medical Illustration was an extant field until one semester before graduation, so she had to pivot hard towards science at the last minute. She spent the last year taking the remaining prerequisite courses while working at a small tax firm in Kansas City. During that time, she also started a small business selling hand-made butterfly bolo ties where you pull the strings to flap the wings.

Marissa is excited to be in the BVIS program! In her free time, she likes to sketch at museums, and try to teach herself new skills.

Nisha is from Dallas, Texas, where she went to the University of Texas at Dallas for her undergraduate studies. She found her love for art when she was younger while reading comics and watching animated shows. She also loved her science classes growing up, which led her to pursue a degree in Neuroscience with a minor in Visual Arts. During her time at UTD, she worked as a medical scribe and then as a registered behavior technician. She found an interest in illustration and storytelling while developing concept art for a space-pirate adventure game one summer. During her time preparing for medical school applications, she found out about the field of medical illustration and decided it better fit her career goals.

Outside of school, Nisha likes painting, crocheting, cooking, baking, and jewelry-making. She enjoys visiting museums and hunting for trinkets in art markets.

My name is Rose Pulte, and I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I graduated in 2026 with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Studio Art. I knew early on in my college experience that I wanted to pursue medical illustration as a career due to my love of art and human anatomy. During my time at my undergraduate university, Grand Valley State University, I worked two Teaching Assistant positions and participated in research across three faculty laboratories. Throughout these opportunities, I found that I thoroughly enjoyed both teaching and research, and I hope to apply these interests to my illustration work in the BVIS program.

In my free time I enjoy vintage shopping, thrifting, sketching, hanging out with friends, and spending time with my cat.

Jess Reynolds joins BVIS from New Orleans, LA. Her journey to Medical Illustration began in 2008, when her high school art teacher Olsen Ross recognized her struggle choosing between Art and Science for her undergraduate major. Jess earned both a BS in Biology and a BA in Studio Art (with an Art History minor) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as a member of the University Honors Program. In 2019, she advanced her science training by completing an MS in Cell and Molecular Biology from Tulane University, where she discovered interests in Regenerative and Developmental Biology. During her journey, Jess found joy working as a Science Educator, a Lab Technician, an ABO Certified Optician, and as an Illustrator in EdTech, all aligning with her aspirations of increasing Science Literacy and creating impactful Patient Education.

Today, Jess is thrilled to expand her training in 3D modeling and animation software, as well as expose herself to new modalities of Medical Illustration. She is particularly excited to leverage her experience in education and Optical by shadowing Anaplastologists and Optometrists to directly create her own tools for improving patient outcomes and compliance within the Optometric Sciences.

As a student of Classical Realism and Blue Easel Club Atelier member, Jess aims to infuse all her work with the foundational skills she has gained and is also looking forward to joining the Palette and Chisel Atelier in Chicago for community and continued advancement of her technical skill. In her free time, Jess enjoys life drawing, playing piano, Herpetology, adventures with her husband Josh, and cultivating large Cereus cacti.

Izzy Rushdy grew up just south of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Her passion for creating art and studying science led her to the Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration program at Iowa State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2024. In her undergraduate program, Izzy discovered her love of digital modeling and 3D printing, which she hopes to further explore at BVIS.

She is excited to learn to adapt biomedical visuals to serve a variety of audiences and hopes her work will help facilitate dialogue between patients, consumers, and professionals. Outside of class, Izzy likes to sketch, collage, cook, visit antique stores, and try new teas.

I grew up in Bayfield, WI, and received my bachelor’s in biology from Northern Michigan University. I studied biology in my undergrad with the goal of going into veterinary medicine but pivoted after learning about a career where I could be creative, technical, and continue in a science field. What brought me to UIC BVIS was learning about the wonderful community and guidance received while in the program. I am excited to learn more in all areas of visualization but am particularly interested in UIC’s anaplastology focus. In my free time I love to be outside in nature mountain biking, canoeing, and sketching the natural world.

Liv was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She studied fine arts and biology for 2 years before being introduced to the world of medical illustration. She then transferred from the University of Nebraska to Iowa State to pursue Biological Pre-Medical Illustration for 3 years. After graduating in 2025, she worked as a medical illustration intern at the University of Nebraska Medicine where she worked on 3D modeling and texturing in ZBrush and Maya. This position solidified her desire to learn more about modeling, animation, and game design and how it can be utilized for educational material.

Liv is looking forward to continuously bridging the gap between art, science, and technology while connecting with the community of Chicago.

Lia is from the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and graduated with a B.S. in biology, health and society from the University of Michigan in 2025. Initially following a pre-medical pathway while simultaneously being a lifelong artist, they have always been interested in combining their passions for healthcare and the arts. During their undergraduate years, Lia worked for a research project under Michigan Medicine’s Department of Anatomical Sciences, where they helped create anatomical models and digital learning assets for the medical school curriculum. Here, they also began illustrating medical diagrams for the project, sparking their desire to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical visualization. They are interested in continuing their medical art focus on 3D modeling and animation. Outside of school they love to make original animations, comics and watch movies!