The well known adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” certainly applies to an illustration of a Black pregnant woman and fetus that recently garnered massive internet attention. It was the work of Chidiebere Ibe, a Nigerian medical student and illustrator who rendered a common subject in a less common manner. Countless people on social media indicated they had never seen a medical illustration of a Black person. Ibe’s depiction highlighted the need for training images that reflect the varied complexions of people that medical professionals serve.
Considering how skin color often factors into the process of diagnosis as a health indicator, incorporating images of dark and varied complexioned people into medical training is a critical matter that impacts professional proficiency.
Click here to learn more about the work of Chidiebere Ibe and his great example for improving medical illustrations.