How Virtual and Augmented Reality Will Transform Healthcare

VR technology can improve clinical assessments by making them more objective and functional, and improve medical training such as surgical skill training and procedure planning by applying simulation-based learning principals. Personal health and wellness will be improved by using VR to promote healthy lifestyles and to reduce stress and anxiety. As the cost of healthcare rises, VR technology can serve as a powerful telemedicine platform to reduce costs of care delivery and improve clinical efficiency. VR and AR technology will also help facilitate the shift of medicine to direct personal care. The foundational research has been completed – now, with proper application and validation, VR and AR systems are poised to move out of the research lab and into the clinical sphere, where they will dramatically impact and improve our healthcare system. This session will provide an overview of how the coming wave of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology will dramatically impact medical research and clinical care, while also improving personal health and wellness.

• Walter Greenleaf, PhD, Medical VR / AR Expert, Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab
• Beth Rogozinski, Chief Content Officer, Pear Therapeutics