James Cormier
James Cormier is a medical illustrator and exhibit designer.
Cormier earned his bachelor's degree in fine art at the University of Montevallo and his MFA from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He spent seven years as an exhibit designer at the McWane Science Center before enrolling in the graduate program in medical illustration at the Medical College of Georgia.
Cormier's senior project was a 5:1 oversized scale model of the human brain, intended to be cast in foam rubber for use in group education settings. The model can be pulled apart into sections showing anatomical detail. He also designed a floor mat with information about the brain which can be used in tandem with the model. The project was awarded a national prize from the Vesalius Trust for Visual Communication in the Health Sciences.
After graduation Cormier returned to Birmingham to pursue funding for development of his oversized models for use in schools and museums as well as regular employment as a medical illustrator. His wife, Lori is an anthropology professor at UAB.
References
- Connell, Amy (May 5, 2008) "Medical illustration student sculpts giant brain" Medical College of Georgia News
- Velasco, Anna (May 19, 2008) "Cormier to tackle models of heart, stomach next." Birmingham News