Improving Military Safety Training Through Art

Julia Coley ’27 (medical illustration) is applying her background in medical illustration in support of improved military safety training. She conducted research through the Summer Scholars Program at Uniformed Services University, where she created a customizable silicone mask for use during emergency response training called moulage. The mask, with interchangeable eyes representing various injury types, fits over the head of existing manikins. It represents an enhanced way to aid the identification, and treatment, of ocular trauma from warfare. 

“As eye injuries continue to evolve as a result of modern warfare, it is critical that our educational tools and resources evolve as well,” Coley said. “This research aims to help close the diagnostic training gap and ultimately improve patient outcomes in diagnosis.”

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RIT medical illustration student Julia Coley designed this silicone mask with interchangeable eyes.