MedSpeak Illuminated

In this insightful and engaging book, Dr. Luks weaves together the history of medicine and art to describe the deep connections between the two fields and their contributions to the modern practice of biomedical visualization. This combination of historical grounding and real-world application makes MedSpeak Illuminated a unique and essential resource for all interested in medical illustration as a profession and as a means of communication. --Jill K. Gregory, president-elect, Association of Medical Illustrators There is only one person who could have written MedSpeak Illuminated and that is the master surgeon and accomplished artist Francois Luks. A must-read for every medical professional--and everyone with an interest in exceptional, informative, and entertaining writing. This is a true magnum opus. --G. Wayne Miller, author of King of Hearts: The True Story of the Maverick Who Pioneered Open Heart Surgery Very few people have the breadth of knowledge and practical experience to write on the intersection of seemingly disparate fields of art, medicine, history, science, graphic arts, and communication. Not surprisingly, there is a paucity of informative text in this multi-disciplinary arena of medical illustration. This book is a tour de force that amalgamates all these fields, not only from a historical perspective, but more importantly, as a genuine handbook of usable art and graphic techniques for both the artist and clinical practitioner. With rich illustrations, Francois Luks coherently explores the vast life-science specialties that medical/scientific illustration touches--all in effortless prose. This book should be a staple on the bookshelf of every biomedical communicator, clinician, and medical historian. --Ian Suk, professor of neurosurgery and art as applied to medicine, Johns Hopkins University Through crystal-clear writing and a wealth of illustrations, MedSpeak Illuminated beautifully demonstrates the braided connection between medicine and scientific visualization. Never pedantic, always engaging, Luks's genial tone belies his seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of the history of medicine and of medical illustration--from bloodletting to MRIs, from medieval woodcuts to the 3D rendering of SARS-CoV-2. An accomplished surgeon and born teacher, he convincingly--and entertainingly--makes the case that effective communication is the beating heart of both medical illustration and the art of medicine. --Sarah C. Baldwin, former director of communications, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Dr. Francois Luks, a skilled surgeon, talented artist, and supreme humanist, is a one-of-a-kind ambassador to the art of healing. MedSpeak Illuminated is more than a book about medical illustration. It challenges us to look deeply at the human body and think differently about how we appreciate, understand, and connect with others. --Jay Baruch, author of Fourteen Stories: Doctors, Patients, and Other Strangers