AEIMS: Where art meets medicine

Scientific Illustration: Learning and sharing at the dawn of an AI revolution — this is the theme of the 31st congress (Paris, 2025) of the European Association of Medical and Scientific Illustrators (AEIMS). This international association brings together scientists, artists, illustrators, and sculptors working in medical education and the life sciences.

Founded in Strasbourg in 1986, AEIMS organizes its annual congress in different European cities, often in collaboration with local training institutes. Host of the 2025 edition is École Estienne, a Parisian college that offers a two-year full-time program in scientific illustration. A similar curriculum exists in Maastricht.

“AEIMS encourages the creation of training opportunities and the recruitment of young talent in the field of medical and scientific illustration and communication. We promote the profession through exhibitions, publicity, and sponsorship, and we aim to endorse diplomas from scientific illustration programs across Europe,” explains AEIMS president Professor Dr. Ann Van de Velde (University of Antwerp).

Bridging medicine and the arts

Since 2022, Van de Velde has led AEIMS with a clear mission: to strengthen the role of visual communication within European medical and scientific communities. In addition to her position as hematologist at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), she is also active in the field of art and she teaches the history of healthcare at the University of Antwerp’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Unique opportunity

“The congresses offer both students and professionals a unique opportunity to explore the evolving field of scientific illustration,” says Ann Van de Velde. “Across two days, keynote speakers from both scientific and artistic disciplines share their expertise, sparking discussion about professional practice and teaching in Europe — especially in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.”

Why AI?

“The choice of AI as a core theme is obvious,” says Professor Van de Velde. “AI is already essential in medical imaging, and we will apply it extensively in the Vesalius Continuum Project — an international initiative led by the University of Antwerp. There, a virtual Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564), the founder of modern anatomy, will guide learners through anatomy and its history.”