Panel of UAB speakersThe Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation, along with other UAB entities, recently attended a virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in Huntsville, Alabama hosted by the VR/AR Association, an international organization designed to foster collaboration between spatial computing solution providers and end-users. The event, Making the Connection: VR and AR in Alabama, highlighted the extended reality (XR) industry in Alabama.
The innovation institute is actively collaborating outside the Heersink School of Medicine with other UAB entities: the Collat School of Business and UAB Libraries. Through this partnership, the institute is developing a comprehensive education program for health care innovation. Representatives from the institute, Collat, and UAB Libraries shared information on these initiatives with attendees.
Other UAB stakeholders participated in the event’s panel discussion, moderated by Dorothy Ogdon, head of Emerging Technology and System Development, UAB Libraries Technology and Technical Services. Byron Lai, Ph.D., M.S., assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Heersink School of Medicine, and Jakub Godzik, M.D., M.S., assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, Heersink School of Medicine, shared how they are both using VR for patient therapy and education and preparing staff for procedures. Cori Perdue, Ph.D., director of Professional Education, Collat School of Business, shared her journey from initially not considering XR to developing a large-scale XR endeavor.
"This event was meaningful because it showcased the university's strength by bringing together diverse groups leading XR application," said Jose Flores, associate director of Innovation for the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation.
UAB groups engaging attendeesDuring the event, UAB stood out as the only medical system presenters at the event, showcasing the institute's leadership in the health care innovation space. The Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation gained valuable insights from other panelists and tables, which have the potential to impact the institute, UAB, and the broader healthcare landscape.
The event marked a pivotal moment for the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation and UAB as a whole in the health care innovation landscape. The innovation institute’s contributions, insights gained, and future plans for collaboration across Alabama demonstrate a commitment to innovation and collaboration that will shape the future of health care. Its patient-centered approach, coupled with its pioneering spirit, positions it as a frontrunner in the health care innovation journey.