Melissa Mendez Fruto
South Louisville
Summary
Entry-level opportunities where I can: Learn professional patient education workflows alongside experienced teams, Build portfolio depth through real-world clinic, nonprofit, or public health projects, Receive mentorship on health literacy standards and medical accuracy, Contribute bilingual design skills to underserved communities, Grow into a steady, sustainable health communication career.
Entry-level health education illustrator creating textured, hand-drawn surreal visuals that clarify anatomy, ergonomics, pain, and intimate health. I turn difficult body topics into clear, humane visual stories-helping people understand their bodies without shame, pity, or pressure. Bilingual in English and Spanish, ready to build evidence-based, trauma-aware materials for clinics, nonprofits, and digital health teams.
Overview
2024
2024
years of post-secondary education
Work History
No experience
None
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Contributed innovative ideas and solutions to enhance team performance and outcomes.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
Education
Hardin County High
Elizabethtown, KYSkills
- Patient Education Design
- Bilingual Health Materials
- Anatomy & Pain Visualization
- Intimate Health Communication
- Ergonomics & Body Mechanics
- Trauma-Informed Visual Storytelling
- Remote Collaboration
- Document-Based Workflows
Career Goals
Entry-level opportunities where I can learn professional patient education workflows alongside experienced teams, build portfolio depth through real-world clinic, nonprofit, or public health projects, receive mentorship on health literacy standards and medical accuracy, contribute bilingual design skills to underserved communities, and grow into a steady, sustainable health communication career., Junior health education illustrator or designer, Patient materials intern or contractor for community clinics, Freelance projects with clear guidance and feedback, Nonprofit health communication assistant, Remote collaboration with flexible, accessible work culture
Services
- Entry-level rates, Health education illustration (anatomy, pain, body mechanics), Patient handout design (bilingual, accessible, trauma-aware), Intimate health visual communication (consent, STI, reproductive care), Social media health content (slides, infographics, mini-comics), Visual systems for clinics and nonprofits (icon sets, template series), Process support (health literacy review, plain language editing, accessibility feedback), $18-28/hour (negotiable, entry-level)
- Project quotes available
- Open to internships or trial projects
Collaboration Preferences
I'm best suited to community health clinics serving Spanish-speaking populations, nonprofits focused on intimate partner violence, reproductive justice, disability advocacy, digital health platforms needing trauma-informed patient content, public health campaigns requiring bilingual, accessible materials., Heavy live-teaching roles, Constant synchronous meetings, Primarily on-site work
Closing Statement
Ready to invest in an entry-level illustrator who deeply cares about clear, humane health communication?
Work Preference
Remote-friendly
Job Type
Entry-level / Career starter
Languages
- Spanish
- English
- Spanish
Work Process
Research → Review clinical guidelines, existing patient materials, community needs, Sketch → Rough thumbnails exploring tone, metaphor, accessibility, Refine → Fact-check with reputable sources, adjust for trauma sensitivity, Deliver → Final art + bilingual text + editable formats, Learn → Receive feedback, iterate, improve for next project, Procreate, Photoshop, Figma, Google Docs, Annotated PDFs, Async collaboration platforms, Document-oriented: Clear written briefs, tracked revisions, organized file systems, Steady pacing: Best suited to long-form projects, ongoing visual systems, sustainable timelines, Minimal meetings: Prefers async feedback over constant Zoom; thoughtful, written communication, Culturally grounded: Designs that honor diverse bodies, families, languages, lived realities, Fast learner: Self-directed study, open to mentorship, committed to growth
Portfolio - Projects
- Anatomy & Body Maps, Making invisible pain visible, Gentle diagrams of pelvic floor, spine, chronic pain pathways, Nerve sensation maps that honor lived experience, Surreal metaphors for body processes (inflammation as weather, tension as tangles)
- Ergonomics & Daily Body Care, Practical guides for real work, real bodies, Step-by-step posture sequences for warehouse, restaurant, office workers, Safe lifting and bending illustrated in clear 1-2-3 formats, Screen setup and stretching routines designed for accessibility
- Intimate & Reproductive Health, Honest, shame-free body knowledge, Consent frameworks and boundary communication, STI prevention, birth control, menstrual health, Gender-affirming care navigation, Sex after childbirth, surgery, or trauma, Pelvic pain and pleasure without judgment
- Emotions & Body Experience, The surreal side of health, Visual narratives of anxiety, chronic fatigue, dissociation, Flare-up cycles and pain memory illustrated as landscapes, Body signals in intimate partner violence and safety planning, Illustrations showing how bodies hold stress, grief, survival
- Bilingual Patient Handouts, Clear communication in two languages, Before/after clinic flyers (confusing → clear), Mini-zines for community health centers, Social media health slides optimized for sharing, One-page guides designed for low-vision, low-literacy audiences
Timeline
No experience
None
Hardin County High