06/08/2020
OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS— The Dept. of Medical Illustration is delighted to announce that William C. “Kip” Carter is the 2020 recipient of the Robert C. Benassi Outstanding Alumni Award. Kip is a member of the Class of ‘82.
After graduation from the Medical College of Georgia, Kip went to work as in Educational Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, UGA. He quickly became Chief of Medical illustration Services, a position he still holds. In 2013 - 2014, he served as Interim Director of Educational Resources. Kip has also served as Chief Medical Illustrator for Journal of Clinical Techniques in Equine Practice and the Journal of Operative Techniques in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, both published by W.B. Saunders.
From 1982 - 1996, Kip was a preceptor for Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) summer internship program. Many MCG students interned with him and learned a good deal about comparative anatomy and how to be a better illustrator. From 1991 – 1997, Kip also served as an Instructor in the Scientific Illustration program in the Lamar Dodd School of Art, UGA. Since 1990, Kip has been an Asst. Adjunct Professor in the Medical Illustration Graduate Program here at AU. Beginning in 2015, Kip has been an Instructor in the Comparative Medical Illustration Certificate Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, UGA. It is fair to say that Kip has been uniquely involved in the education of a great many medical and scientific illustrators at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels.
In his nomination letter, Prof. & Chair Emeritus Steven J. Harrison, PhD (Class of ’70) said, “Kip has three decades of service to the department as an Asst. Adjunct Professor. He also established post-graduate internships in veterinary illustration at UGA, which have greatly benefited quite a few of our grads.” Kip has been an active lecturer in the Medical Illustration Graduate Program here at Augusta University on topics including: veterinary illustration, comparative anatomy, surgical illustration, and artists’ rights. According to Andrews, “For many years Kip has been a major and invaluable participant in the Mock Interview Program that is an essential part of our comprehensive business course.” Harrison sums it up nicely, “Kip is a great teacher.”
Kip is an outstanding medical illustrator, with a great many national and international awards to his credit. Here are a few highlights:
• Will Shepard Award of Excellence for Instructional Color, for “Comparative Anatomy: Avian
• and Quadruped,” from the AMI, Richmond, 2009
• Will Shepard Award of Excellence for Instructional Color, for “American Trypanosomiasis,” from AMI, Cleveland, 2004
• Award of Excellence, Editorial Cover Illustration, for “Equine Acupuncture,” from The Rx Club, New York, 2001
• First Place for Illustration, American Horse Publications, Annual Awards, 1999
• Award of Excellence, Editorial Cover Illustration, from The Rx Club, New York, 1994
• Award of Excellence, Illustrated Medical Book, AMI, 1993
• Award of Excellence, Editorial Cover Illustration, from The Rx Club, New York, 1992
• Award of Excellence, Illustrated Medical Book, Clinical Text, AMI, 1990
• Award of Excellence, Georgia State and University Media Film Festival, 1984
Kips’ curriculum vitae includes scores and scores of entries for textbooks, atlases, book chapters, medical journal articles, trade magazine articles, and poster exhibits which he has illustrated or designed. He has given dozens of presentations and workshops, and has been involved in numerous panel discussions and other continuing education events.
When not drawing or painting, Kip stays busy as a kid’s soccer and basketball coach, and has even found time to serve as president of the Olde Lexington Gardens Homeowner’s Assoc.
There’s an old adage that says, “if you need something done, find a busy person.” Kip is that busy person, he gets things done. And whatever he does, he gives it a 100%. Kip is dedicated to the profession, committed to the craft, and driven by the pursuit of excellence. In describing his talents as a medical illustrator, Charles Boyter stated, “His skills are second to none.” The Medical Illustration Graduate Program, and the profession, are indeed better and stronger for his involvement.