VR-based platform brings medical education to a new virtual audience

Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation, and Education (MITIE℠) announced today the launch of its virtual reality (VR) platform: MITIEverse™, a new application devoted to healthcare education, training, and innovation. Built in partnership with FundamentalVR, the app transports the user into customizable showcase rooms, surgical simulations, and lectures from Houston Methodist faculty and collaborators from across the world.

MITIE℠ is a hands-on clinical training facility for health care professionals seeking to maintain excellent procedural skills and acquire new proficiencies.

“This new app brings the hands-on education and training MITIE℠ is known for to a new virtual audience. Think of this as the first step towards building out a medical metaverse”.

Stuart Corr, PhD, inventor of the MITIEverse™ and Director of Innovation Systems Engineering at Houston Methodist

Within the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center’s showcase room, users can view Houston Methodist faculty performing actual surgeries and then interact with 3D human models.

“We view the MITIEverse™ as a paradigm-shifting platform that will offer new experiences in how we educate, train, and interact with the health community. It essentially democratizes access to healthcare educators and innovators by breaking down physical barriers – no need to travel thousands of miles to attend a conference when you can patch into the MITIEverse™.”

Alan Lumsden, M.D., medical director of Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center.

“We are delighted to partner with Houston Methodist hospital to build on their world leading educational activity in the real world – to create a pioneering spatial computing based resource to accelerate education in VR. This will drive awareness and understanding of both skills and knowledge across surgical practices which will in turn lead to better patient outcomes.”

Chris Scattergood, Co-Founder at FundamentalVR

The platform also offers a virtual auditorium where medical professionals from around the world can give presentations with the capability for unlimited live viewing. Virtual study spaces allow for global multi-user experiences with interactive models, whiteboards, and other tools.

MITIEverse™ also allows collaborators like medical device and digital health companies to have a virtual presence where users can test their digital assets and 3D content.

More information on the MITIEverse™ app is available at www.mitieverse.app