John Daugherty

This JBC Showcase features the award-winning work of AMI member John Daugherty. John was the recipient of the Association of Medical Illustrator's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

John's keen interest in medicine and science led him to receive his BA in Chemistry and Psychology from Indiana University in 1975. John then started a graduate program in Pharmacology at Indiana University, and during his second semester, he came across an exhibit by well-known medical illustrator, Paul Peck. From that moment, John knew medical illustration was something he just had to pursue.

With his family support, John withdrew from the Pharmacology program and enrolled in the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis. John was accepted to the University of Michigan's medical and biological illustration graduate program, and he graduated with an MS in Medical and Biological Illustration in 1980. After graduation, John joined the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Colorado State University as an Instructor and Coordinator of Biomedical Illustration.

In 1988, John began his long tenure at the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Biomedical Visualization, becoming a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Visualization graduate program. A year later, John also became the sole proprietor of his own medical illustration studio, Highlight Studios. John would find himself at UIC's Biomedical Visualization program for the rest of his career. John spent over 30 years at UIC, having become the program director in 2011.

The exceptional work of The Naturalists, a group of painters who used color to document everyday life in Europe, and the pen sketches by the artists of the Renaissance, such as DaVinci, Raphael and Michelangelo, served to shape John's signature style. John specialized in anatomical and diagnostic illustrations of the human body for the purpose of educating patients and healthcare professionals. His illustrations have graced the pages of medical and scientific textbooks and journals, as well as national magazines.

John became a certified medical illustrator through the Board of Certification of Medical Illustrators in 1994 and kept his certification current throughout his entire career. His work has garnered approximately 20 Association of Medical Illustrators Awards, including several Members' Choice Awards for best in show. Other award categories include Advertising, Editorial, Medical Color, Medical Book and Marketing/Promotional. His artistic excellence is evident in the volume of awards he has received in the last decades for his outstanding illustrations. John has given numerous presentations and workshops to the Association of Medical Illustrators, the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and other professional organizations. His work has been exhibited at the New York Society of Illustrators, National Library of Medicine, Rx Club, John Muir Medical Film Festival, Oakland Museum of Art, International Museum of Surgical Science, and Lisboa-Terreiro do Paço in Portugal.

John has helped shape the careers of many students through his inspirational work, generous teaching, and amazing insight into each student's talents. For nearly 33 years, BVIS students have benefited enormously from John's extensive knowledge and the creation of a collaborative rich environment. His support, guidance, and mentorship have been critical in helping students through their research and their academic journeys.

In 2021, John retired from his role of Program Director and Clinical Assistant Professor.

The editors would like to thank Leah Lebowicz, EdD, for providing this biographical content. Leah is the Program Director/Clinical Assistant Professor Biomedical Visualization Graduate Program at UIC.

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