OUR CREATIVE TEAM

​The Medical Arts staff is made up of experienced designers and illustrators dedicated to delivering quality work, providing best-in-class customer service while effectively communicating the NIH mission.

  • ​​ Woody Machalek 
    Woody MachalekBranch Chief

    Woody is the branch chief of our creative studio. He brings more than 30 years of experience in graphic design, creative direction, and production, as well as extensive, in-the-trenches experience with managing budgets and contracts. He comes to ORS after working at other Federal agencies, in the private sector (Inova Health Systems in Northern Virginia), and as President and CEO of his own graphic design firm. He is a native of Virginia and earned his B.F.A. in visual communications from Virginia Commonwealth University. Don’t be caught off guard by his casual, easy-going demeanor and sense of humor, because Woody isn’t your typical government bureaucrat. He has a heart for customer service and his door is always open, so if you need assistance with a creative endeavor or simply have a question about your latest Medical Arts invoice, he is always ready to lend a hand.​

  • ​​ Martha Blalock  
    Martha BlalockCreative Director

    Martha directs our creative studio with conceptual insight and a fine artist’s eye. Armed with a dual-major B.F.A. in Graphic Design and Fine Art from the Corcoran​ in Washington, DC plus an M.F.A. in Product Design from Domus Academy in Milan, Italy, Martha brings a classically-trained, cosmopolitan perspective to creative work. She began her creative career with Medical Arts first as an illustrator and designer. Now, as Creative Director, Martha wears many hats – from business development and new project estimating to art direction and team management. If you’re considering Medical Arts for the first time, or have a complex project to discuss, Martha should be your first point of contact.

  • Alan Hoofring  
    Alan HoofringLead Medical Illustrator

    Alan is too humble to say what his work truly is: impressive. As our lead medical illustrator Alan has quietly and steadily contributed to NIH’s published research portfolio for well over a decade, illustrating figures and covers for NIH investigators that have appeared in journals such as Nature, Cell, JACS, JBC, and more. No academic slouch, Alan has undergraduate degrees in Fine Art and Mathematics/Physics, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.A. in Medical and Biological Illustration from Johns Hopkins. He uses his entire cerebrum to visualize biomedical concepts and interpret data, whether creating anatomical or technical illustrations, working in traditional media or contemporary 3D software, or more. Alan’s in high demand but always interested in visualizing new research so contact him if you have a project in mind.

  • Bonnie Hamalainen  
    Bonnie HamalainenArt Director

    Bonnie is Medical Arts’ Art Director and lead design project manager. A native Mainer, Bonnie earned a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design/Visual Communication from Virginia Commonwealth University. An educator at heart she previously taught art and design at the high school and college levels. Bonnie isn’t intimidated by project challenges and she’s open to exploration and collaboration. While she has expertise in all of Medical Arts’ design areas Bonnie specializes in publication design, integrated brand design systems, and developing long-term creative relationships with NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices. Like Martha, Bonnie authors design proposals so don’t hesitate to contact her directly with a project inquiry.

  • India Taylor  
    India TaylorProduction​ Lead

    India leads our Production Team and also contributes regularly to the Design Team. A self-described workhorse she manages in-house Production on everything from scientific poster sessions to booklet digital printing, framing orders, awards ceremony materials, and anything else that comes across her desk. India does this all with a smile and a work ethic that has earned her a loyal customer following. India is also a skilled Signage and Environmental Graphic designer, having earned her Associates’ and Bachelors’ Degrees from the School of Art & Design in Takoma Park and Marymount University in Arlington, VA. Separately, India plays the piano and is a workout fiend so rest assured you’re in the capable hands of a Renaissance Woman when working with her.

  • Erina He  
    Erina HeMedical Illustrator

    Erina joined our Medical Illustration group in 2016, immediately bringing her talents and an international perspective to the team. A bit of a globe-trotter Erina cites California as a home base but has lived in four countries. She has a B.S. in Neuroscience and Physiology from the University of California San Diego and an M.S. in Biomedical Communications from the University of Toronto. She has been busy at Medical Arts from the start, not only developing artwork for researchers but also contributing her editorial illustration and design skills to the Design team. (A last tidbit: Erina is admired by her Medical Arts colleagues for her effervescence and envied for her youth.)

  • Ethan Tyler  
    Ethan TylerMedical Illustrator

    Ethan’s medical illustration work is like that of the research community with whom he works: smart, innovative, boundary-pushing. His work has graced the covers of several journals including Science, Nature, and Cell and his figures have accompanied innumerable published articles. Ethan works in all illustration areas but is particularly adept in 3D and animation: one of his 3D animations on photoimmunotherapy was shown at the 2016 USA Science and Engineering Festival. Ethan has a B.A. in Biology from Concordia University Texas and an M.A. in Medical and Biological Illustration from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

  • Jeffrey Everett  
    Jeffrey EverettSenior Designer

    Jeffrey joined Medical Arts in September 2016, immediately improving our cool factor with his rock & roll credentials* (*he’s designed work for a lot of bands… seriously). He worked independently for years and still maintains his studio while bringing his award-winning design and illustration chops to the NIH. He’s skilled in all visual communication areas and particularly adept with illustrative portraiture and posters. He’s also experienced in digital media and user interface design. Jeffrey has an M.F.A. in Graphic Design from The School of Visual Arts in New York City, NY and his work has been published in numerous books and magazines. We think you’ll find – and agree – that NIH is fortunate to have a talent like Jeffrey on board.

  • Jessica Jackson  
    Jessica JacksonSenior Designer

    Don’t let Jessica’s quiet personality fool you: her design work is anything but demure. Jessica, one of Medical Arts’ best graphic designers for posters and publications, has a bold, expressive artistic palette. Informed by a B.A. from UMBC and advanced certificate work in Graphic Design from the Portfolio Center, Jessica’s work is always conceptually grounded and beautifully crafted. Multi-talented, Jessica is skilled and experienced in all of MAB’s design areas – from brand identity, publications, and posters to large-format environmental graphics and exhibit design. In fact, prior to coming to NIH Medical Arts she worked for 7 years at one of Washington D.C.’s pre-eminent museum exhibit design firms. Let Jessica bring visual life to your message.

  • Michael Trinh  
    Michael TrinhProduction Specialist

    Michael – a vital member of the Production Team since 2018 – is a Virginia Tech Hokie with a B.A. in Graphic Design. He’s proficient in producing scientific posters, digital printing, framing and all other in-house Production tasks. He’s also skilled in the area large-format Environmental Graphics Production. A True Team Player, Michael has earned the admiration of his colleagues and customers for his never say “No” attitude and positive demeanor. When he’s not chasing his three beautiful children around, he enjoys watching football and keeping up with current events.

  • Carlos Mena  
    Carlos MenaProduction Specialist

    ​Carlos joined Med Arts in 2019, bringing over 20 years experience and expertise in graphic arts, pre-press tech, and Production project management to Med Arts and the NIH. We’ve greatly benefitted from Carlos’ tremendous project efficiency and ability to manage large-scale Production jobs as well as his bilingual capabilities (he’s fluent in both Spanish and English). Outside of work he enjoys fine art, photography, aquatic sports, hiking and mountain biking. He also enjoys spending time with his family – his wife, 2 children, and his mother, for whom he serves as caregiver.

  • Maiu Romano-Verthelyi  
    Maiu Romano- VerthelyiProduction Specialist

    Maiu joined Med Arts in 2020 after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park where she studied Painting, Illustration, and Graphic Design. Maiu is a valuable member of our Production Team where she’s agile in aerial prints, scientific posters, certificates, and Length of Service awards. She’s also a dual threat and contributes regularly to the Design Team, where her artistic skills are evident. Maiu is Argentine and speaks both English and Spanish. Her personal Interests include food, social justice advocacy, dancing, and trying new things.

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