Kirk received his B.A. in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester and held a pre-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Chicago before returning to Rochester to receive an M.Sc. in Medical Education. His research dealt with the ultrastructural changes in the auditory system as it related to seizure activity.
As a professional medical illustrator Kirk has worked for most all of the major pharmaceutical and biotech companies and their agencies. In addition to his advertising, magazine and book illustrations, he has served as Creative Director for a number of New York medical animation studios. Kirk’s illustrations have been displayed at annual exhibitions and a special Art in Medicine Exhibit at the Society of Illustrators in New York City in addition to corporate installations.
Kirk is best known for is illustrating the mechanisms of action of drugs at the cellular and molecular level. He has proven his ability to interpret medical knowledge and provide inspired illustrations in most every field of medical science. Kirk’s cutting edge “Glassman” series of transparent human anatomical studies and panoramic molecular “macroscapes” for the National Geographic Society have become standards in the field.