Creating a New Reality for Learning: VR and the Future of Healthcare and Science Education

Starting with their groundbreaking virtual reality experience “The Stanford Virtual Heart,” David Sarno and Dr. David Axelrod have used VR to propel medical and science education into a new era. Collaborating at the San Francisco-based VR company Lighthaus Inc., David and David have worked with Stanford’s Schools of Medicine, Education, and Biology, as well as with industry leaders in cardiac resuscitation science and two of California’s largest school districts. They will provide insight into this powerful educational medium, discuss the future of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, and share live in-VR demonstrations of their work. David and David’s work at Lighthaus and Stanford has been featured in various media outlets including The New York Times and The Discovery Channel, and they have shared their work at numerous international technology and medical conferences.

Presenters

David Axelrod is a pediatric cardiologist and clinical associate professor at Stanford where he specializes in the care of children with critical heart diseases. He is also the Lead Medical Advisor at Lighthaus, an interactive storytelling company that pioneers first-class scientific virtual environments in healthcare, science, and education.

David Sarno was formerly a technology columnist at the L.A. Times, and founded Lighthaus in 2013 while a Knight Journalism fellow at Stanford. He’s also a lecturer at the Stanford School of Medicine, with a focus on the use of virtual reality for next-generation medical training and education. Lighthaus adds new dimensions to digital storytelling –by designing interactive, virtual experiences in education, medicine, and media — users absorb information in a way they never have — by touching, controlling and experiencing their virtual world.

Presenter(s)