Biomedical Communications

Our Program

The Master of Science in Biomedical Communications (MScBMC) is a professional graduate program focused on the design, creation and evaluation of visual media for scientific and healthcare communication. Building on a rich tradition of medical illustration, we integrate art, science, medicine and communication to produce visual content that advances health promotion, medical education and scientific discovery.

In this program, students develop conceptual expertise in community-centred design, visual storytelling, and domain-specific communication best practices, alongside research methodologies to assess the impact of their media creations. They also gain technical expertise in a wide range of communication tools, including digital illustration, animation, digital sculpting, interactive media, and virtual and augmented reality.

Unique in Canada and one of only five accredited Master’s-level medical visualization programs in North America, the MScBMC program is housed in state-of-the-art facilities primarily located at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus.

Compulsory Courses

Students in this program complete 8.5 FCE*

Year 1

Human Anatomy
Visual Representation of Medical Knowledge
Biomedical Communications Technology
Research Methods
Ethics and Professionalism
Visual Representation of Biomolecular Structure and Function
Information Visualization

Year Two

Sequential Medical Communication
Neuroanatomy for Visual Communication
Visual Representation of Processes in Pathology
Master's Research Project
Electives

Alumni Profile

Katelyn Moore, MScBMC

Graduated 2025

The MScBMC program taught me how to communicate complex biomedical information using engaging visuals and a variety of techniques and technologies. I worked with 2D and 3D media to visualize a range of biomedical subjects–from human anatomy and molecular science to medical-legal illustration and medical device development.

I have created award-winning educational resources for surgical trainees and collaborated with organizations such as Toronto General Hospital, St. Michael’s Foundation, and the Canadian-Ukraine Surgical Aid Program.

Today, I work as a full-time self-employed medical illustrator, animator and designer, creating visual content for healthcare professionals and institutions around the world.

View more alumni profiles.

Potential Career Paths

Sample Jobs

Our MScBMC graduates take on diverse leadership roles in industry, including:

Animators in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
Lead illustrators in textbook and journal prepess companies
User experience designers in mobile health application development
Communications specialists for non-profit health organizations
Developers in the educational gaming industry
Creative directors in medical advertising
Creators of medical demonstrative evidence for the courtroom
Hospital-based designers of educational health communication materials
Researchers and educators in higher education.

a human head with the brain and part of the skeleton visible