Two members of Trust staff involved in creating images of injured Pakistan schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai have been invited to address a national conference about medical illustration.

The Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) is to hold the one-off event on 9 May in London with the aim of shedding light on the world of images in medicine.

The event and exhibition will be a unique opportunity to hear from industry experts leading the way in medical imaging techniques used across the UK and to see the images that this group of professionals produces.

The world of medical illustration made headlines when detailed 3D images, clinical photographs and video of the treatment of Malala, who was shot by the Taliban in October last year, were broadcast around the world.

Jane Tovey, Standards and Quality Assurance Lead for IMI and Medical Illustration Services Manager at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), will be among those presenting at the conference, which is being held at the Wellcome Collection Conference Centre on Euston Road in London.

Jane, who took photos of Malala, will be sharing her thoughts on the future of medical illustration and some of the innovative techniques she and her team are trialling at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).

Jane said: “This conference is rare and provides a unique insight into the captivating world of medical illustration and shines a spotlight on the UK’s cutting-edge techniques which make it possible to visualise modern medicine.”

Her colleague, Video Manager Simon Edwards, will also be at the event to demonstrate his animations, especially explaining how he created the 3D images of Malala’s severe head injury.

IMI, which was founded in 1968, represents medical illustrators – those working within healthcare’s clinical photography and video fields as well as graphic designers and medical artists. Medical illustrators communicate treatments and conditions, and the imagery produced is commonly used to help diagnose conditions and assist in the planning of complex surgery and other treatments.

Other leading experts who will be speaking include: one of IMI’s former chairmen, Andrew Johnson, who will highlight the resources available on the IMI website; Jill Fell, discussing the wider use of 3D and UV photography; Simon Brown, also a former Chair and now a consultant medical illustrator who trains GPs and healthcare assistants (HCAs) in photography for tele-medicine; and Dee McLean, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the field of medical illustration.

Dee said: "This event is an opportunity to learn about the vast range of skills and services that medical illustrators offer healthcare to aid communication, diagnosis, clinical treatments and research, and enhance patient care.”

For more information about the conference and the Institute of Medical Illustrators, please see their website (see link below).