Savannah "Van" Pafchek is a a graduate student at the Medical Illustration Graduate Program (MIGP) at Augusta University. Prior to attending Augusta University, she served as a drawing instructor at the York Art Association in York, Pennsylvania where she developed and taught courses including anatomy for artists, portrait drawing, and scientific illustration. Through her studies, Van is combining her experience as an educator with her drive to improve healthcare by creating clear and engaging medical illustrations designed to bridge communication for healthcare students, professionals, and patients.

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Van is currently refining her research and illustration skills at MIGP. She received an award of merit for medical illustration at the 35th Annual Scientific and Medical Illustration Juried Exhibition at the University of Georgia in 2026 for her patient education piece, "Caring for your Child's Tetralogy of Fallot". In 2025, Van was the recipient of an Award for Research Excellence by the Graduate School at Augusta University for her patient education work with the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. She was also awarded the Margaret Hick’s Award for Excellence for an Emerging Artist by the Miniatures Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington D.C in 2023.

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Van attended the Maryland Institute College of Art with a major in drawing while pursuing biology coursework at Johns Hopkins University, earning a BFA in 2020. She then went on to attend Penn State Schuylkill to complete additional coursework in the biological sciences, where she was an associate member of Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society. In her free time, Van is an avid birdwatcher and can be found enjoying a day outside with her binoculars.