By DR. MARK KESTNER
Posted: Sunday, July 13, 2008 7:56 am

As a child, Frank Netter loved to draw. He studied art throughout high school and was constantly searching for opportunities to learn more about illustration. He soon began to be awarded jobs using his talents to portray individuals and create graphic images for advertisements.

His parents appreciated their son’s talents and valued his artistic ambitions. They were leery however of what they considered a questionable career as an artist. They urged him to consider a different path. These discussions took place in the early 1920’s just as the entire country was about to enter the Great Depression.

Frank decided to pursue medicine. As he studied to become a surgeon, however, his artistic tendencies prevailed. His notebooks contained as many sketches as they did handwritten text entries. It was just easier for him to capture a thought or concept by quickly drawing lines than by elaborating in words. His professors noticed his drawings and asked him to illustrate their lectures. Soon he was helping pay some of his educational costs by illustrating medical texts.

Frank had pursued a career in medicine because he expected to earn a better living. However, the Great Depression dampened the finances of everyone, even surgeons. Frank was surprised to find that there was more interest in his artwork than in his surgical skills. He decided to continue working as an artist until his practice became profitable.

One of his most widely published illustrations was a foldout flyer depicting the anatomy of the heart. Ciba, a pharmaceutical company, has commissioned him to create the poster so they could distribute it to doctors to advertise a heart medication. To their surprise, requests poured in for additional copies of the artwork.

This was the beginning of what eventually became the Ciba collection of medical illustrations by Dr Frank Netter. Dr. Netter studied with various specialists to understand how certain conditions affected the body, and graphically reproduced the appropriate portions of the anatomy, often in a diseased or abnormal state. The illustrations were incredibly life-like, and unlike most existing anatomical texts that depicted normal anatomy, his drawings showed what the conditions looked like in abnormal circumstances. This innovative technique was welcome among medical students and practicing doctors alike.

Dr. Netter continued working with Ciba, eventually creating thousands of beautiful, technically accurate detailed images to illustrate clinical conditions. He sketched real patients afflicted with disease, their x-rays, the microscopic findings of pathological slides and other views that might help educate medical professionals.

Dr. Netter passed away in 1991, leaving a legacy of having contributed more to the education of countless medical professionals than anyone else during this era. He was once asked if he regretted giving up a surgical career. He responded that he felt that he was a clinician, because he worked with all manner of specialists and their patients, in order to effectively convey the reality of the various conditions in a life-like manner. “I try to depict living patients whenever possible.” Netter said. “After all, physicians do see patients, and we must remember we are treating whole human beings.”

His works have been collected and bound into a series of green, oversized hardback volumes. I am fortunate to have three volumes of his collection and marvel at the genius of his work every time I have an occasion to view the contents. I would love to have the entire collection. Most of his illustrations are now available in electronic formats, such as computer CDs, but that does not create the same feeling for me as holding one of the beautifully crafted printed editions.

In my view, Dr. Frank Netter is a medical hero. His artwork is the result of a total commitment to his mission. He realized his unique abilities and how valuable his work could be to helping doctors more thoroughly understand and recognize various pathological conditions. Even into his eighties, his enthusiasm and passion for his work never diminished.

Next week: some valuable tips to help you avoid personal disaster. In the meantime, think of the heroes in your life that may have taught what you thought you learned all by yourself.

Dr. Mark Kestner
mkestner@Drkestner.com