About the artist

Hannah Forward is an illustrator and animator who creates medical imagery that emphasizes both accuracy and viewer engagement. After earning her BFA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Hannah returned to Baltimore to pursue an MA in Medical and Biological Illustration at Johns Hopkins University.

Hannah’s visuals serve as invaluable educational tools for healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators, offering a visually compelling means of understanding and communicating complex medical information. Her love for comics and animation are reflected in her colorful palettes, clean line work, and compositions which lead the eye naturally to key details.


Education

2025

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHU SOM)

Master of Arts in Medical and Biological Illustration

2021-23

University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder)

Biology, anatomy coursework

2019

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, Conc. in Sequential Art
cum laude

Experience

2023

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Human Anatomy Laboratory, CU Boulder, Boulder, CO
Taught anatomy to undergraduate students on human cadavers and plastic models; hosted review sessions.

2019-23

Freelance Illustrator

Denver, CO
Created bespoke illustrations for clients; wrote, illustrated, and distributed original comics.

Awards & Honors

2025

Vesalius Trust Research Grant Award

Joseph M. Dieter, Jr., Scholarship for Creative Design Excellence

2024

Award of Merit – Anatomical Illustration

AMI Student Salon
For “Embryological Precursors of the Posterior Cerebral Artery”

2023-25

B. Saunders Scholarship

Elinor W. Bodian Scholarship

William Didusch Scholarship

JHU SOM Tuition Grant

2015-19

MICA Dean’s List

2015

Scholastic Art Award

National Gold Medal

MICA Creative Vision Award