You’ve probably seen those sleek 3D diagrams of the human body in textbooks or science class? Turns out, it’s not AI or stock graphics—it’s an entire profession, and only five accredited graduate programs in all of North America teach it.

Sarah Hussain, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and member of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Philadelphia, is a medical illustrator and animator who transforms complex medical concepts into visuals anyone can understand. Whether it’s a 30-second animation showing how a drug works or a detailed diagram explaining a surgical procedure, Sarah’s work bridges the gap between science and storytelling.

When did you first realize you had a love for anatomy and detail?

Honestly? Horses. In a lot of Dawoodi Bohra homes, you’ll find horse sculptures or paintings—so I saw them everywhere growing up. I was enamored with their anatomy, how they moved—such beautiful, strong animals.

I’d spend hours trying to draw them exactly right—copying, tracing, trying again. I didn’t know it then, but I was falling in love with anatomy. That kind of careful observation—the need to understand how something works underneath—is the same mindset I use now.

How did you end up in this field?

I was fully on the med school track—studying behavioral science and neuroscience in undergrad. I loved science, but I also loved art. Not just casual sketching—I was into realistic, detailed work.

While working in a research lab, I started doing illustrations and diagrams for papers. The more I did it, the more I realized I loved combining visuals with science. I found out—kind of by accident—that medical illustration was an actual field. I thought, “Wait, this is a thing?” 

I knew I could go to med school, but this felt more fulfilling.

So you shifted your focus?

Exactly. Once I knew this existed, I leaned in. I finished my undergrad focused on art and neuroscience, and did a year of masters in business. At the time, it felt disjointed, but entrepreneurship has always been important to me. After that, I applied to Johns Hopkins and graduated from their medical illustration program—one of the first and few accredited ones at one of the oldest hospitals in the country.

Now I manage clients, lead projects and marketing, along with the creative work of making illustrations and animations. I’m grateful to be able to combine my love for science, art, and business in my work.

What’s one of the most difficult projects you’ve worked on?

During my final year at Hopkins, I worked with a biophysicist whose lab had discovered a new mechanism in epigenetics—how DNA selectively unravels and rewinds.

It was a major discovery, but extremely difficult to visualize. We’re talking about a microscopic change in the DNA sequence that alters everything. There were no existing visuals to go by. I had to interpret their research, sculpt something entirely from behavior, and create a 3D animation that made sense to people who had never heard of any of this.

There were so many rounds of feedback, so many iterations. But that’s the job—taking something no one can see, and making it understandable and beautiful.

What do you wish people knew about this field?

There’s a difference between having artistic talent and practicing creativity. People think creativity is just something you have or you don’t. But really, it’s a skill. A muscle that you have to build over and over again. In this field, creativity is problem-solving.

Sometimes I brainstorm 15 or 20 ways to show the same thing. I test ideas, throw them out, revise over and over. It’s not always glamorous—it’s very iterative, and sometimes kind of frustrating. But that’s how you arrive at something clear and effective.

What do you love illustrating the most?

Hands. They’re so expressive. You can see someone’s profession, their age, even their personality just by looking at their hands. Hands tell you so much about a person. They’re also super anatomically complex, so they’re satisfying to draw once you know how they work.

What message do you want to leave with your art?

That art isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

It’s not just for kids or “creatives” or people with time. It’s for everyone. Creativity is a skill. It makes you smarter in how you operate, your relationships, even parenting your kids. It makes you more enduring, more thoughtful, more daring.

Having an artistically enriched childhood is so important toward intellectual development, and that stays true into adulthood, to give you identity and help you find meaning.

Some people think art is for some people and not for others, but I really think everyone can make something beautiful, if they invest the time.