Summary:

In this episode of Acadicus Simulation Pulse Live, Jon Brouchoud and Bill Ballo discuss groundbreaking neonatal resuscitation training in VR, as well as the expansion of XR education at Madison College. They highlight a newly published study by Dr. McAdams and Dr. Trinh, showcasing the effectiveness of Acadicus VR training in neonatal resuscitation. The conversation also covers an upcoming presentation at the VR Healthcare Summit, the increasing adoption of VR across new disciplines, and how grassroots faculty engagement is driving success at Madison College.

Additionally, Bill announces the hiring of a new XR team member to help manage growing demand for virtual simulations, reinforcing VR’s lasting impact on medical and educational training.

Episode Highlights:

VR-Based Neonatal Resuscitation Training Study

• Dr. McAdams & Dr. Trinh’s Research on VR for Neonatal Resuscitation

  • Study published on enhancing realism & engagement in VR-based neonatal training.
  • Proven effectiveness of Acadicus for medical training in high-stakes clinical scenarios.
  • Key takeaway: Healthcare providers highly value VR for its immersive, realistic experience.

• The Power of Customer-Led Research

  • Seeing real-world academic validation reinforces VR’s growing role in medical simulation.
  • Customers like Dr. McAdams and Bill Ballo help drive VR adoption through research-backed data.

VR Healthcare Summit: Madison College Presentation

• Bill Ballo & Melissa presenting on VR in Nursing Education.
• Focus: How Madison College successfully integrated VR into its nursing program.
• Presentation part of Best in Medical XR, hosted by VR Healthcare Summit on LinkedIn.
• Short 10-minute micro-presentations, delivering fast, high-impact insights for educators.

Madison College Expands VR Across Disciplines

• 26th department onboarded: Chemistry will begin using VR in Spring 2025.
• Grassroots faculty engagement is key to expansion.
• Melissa & Karen German credited for driving faculty buy-in for VR in nursing.
• Respiratory Therapy students now using VR simulations with hands-on patient assessments.

New XR Team Member at Madison College

• Part-time hire to help manage growing demand for virtual simulation.
• Focus on supporting medical simulation, allowing Bill to expand VR into other programs.
• First step toward formalizing the role of VR simulation technicians in education.

Student Feedback & VR’s Impact on Learning

• Student exit surveys show strong efficacy for VR-based learning:
  • 57% say VR was “very helpful” in learning course material.
  • 36% found it “somewhat helpful”, totaling 93% positive feedback.
  • Only 3% had a neutral or negative response, proving VR’s strong impact.
• First-time VR users show near-instant engagement, even among skeptical students.
• Students prefer VR over traditional mannequin simulation, as it removes instructor pressure.

The Evolution of VR in Education

• Parallels to the early days of mannequin simulation:
  • VR today is where mannequins were 40 years ago—growing rapidly, proving its effectiveness.
  • In the future, VR will be as common as mannequins in medical training.
• VR technology is advancing faster than previous educational innovations.
• Interconnected global community accelerates VR learning & adoption.

Remote Simulation: Scaling VR Training Without Travel

• VR allows instructors to administer simulations remotely, reducing travel needs.
• Madison College is exploring faculty overseeing simulations from distance.
• Enables multi-campus training, connecting students across different locations.

With peer-reviewed research validating its effectiveness, VR is no longer an experiment—it’s a proven educational tool. As Madison College continues to scale its XR program, faculty engagement and student feedback show that VR is here to stay.