The use of Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance veterinary medicine has become increasingly commonplace in universities across the globe. By using VR, colleges and universities can extend traditional veterinary medicine teaching fostering better patient outcomes without sacrificing the life of any animal.
Overall, the implementation of Virtual Reality into university programs has proven invaluable for providing students and practitioners alike with the skills necessary for success in today’s competitive market.
The future of Virtual Reality (VR) in veterinary medicine is looking extremely promising as this cutting-edge technology continues to advance. As VR becomes more accessible and affordable for higher education institutions, it has the potential to revolutionize how vet students learn how to diagnose and treat patients by providing them with 3D visualizations that help improve accuracy. Furthermore, instructor veterinarians can use immersive simulations for training purposes which allow students to gain experience before working on live animals — reducing costs associated with surgical complications or incorrect treatments.
Colorado State University (CSU) researchers believe that Virtual Reality can play a role in veterinary education. In 2018, a small team of researchers began a quest to create a prototype for a Virtual Reality anesthesiology machine. In 2020, they received funding to launch VetVR, described as a “complex, first person, Virtual Reality veterinary simulator.” The simulation aims to provide practical learning within numerous veterinary scenarios without any real-world consequences. At CSU, the VetVR team is among many Virtual and Augmented Reality-based projects exploring future applications of the technology.
VR increases cognitive load for exams:
Last spring, the developers of VetVR invited vet students to take a voluntary anesthesiology exam within the virtual world and a traditional in-classroom exam. The researchers compared the two scenarios by evaluating the differences in the performance and experiences of the students in each of the scenarios.
The results showed that adapting to the VR setting considerably increased the learning curve compared to the traditional in-classroom exams — VR was new to 70 percent of the participating students, with the added complexity of the virtual environment also playing an important role, according to a press release.
VetVR hopes to expose more vet students to the virtual anesthesia module. “We'll train them in Virtual Reality, and we’ll examine them with a real machine,” says Clinical Science Professor Pedro Boscan, Head of the Anesthesiology Department at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “We are starting with veterinary medicine, but we think VR is going to be part of the future of education,” says Professor Boscan, who leads the VetVR team at Colorado State University. The researchers believe that upcoming generations of learners may be more open to virtual technologies and Virtual Reality might be a useful tool for educating veterinarians.
With a goal to create a virtual setting nearly identical to in-classroom and clinic rotation trainings, so far, the VetVR virtual module for training veterinary students in anesthesiology basics includes: How to sedate patients, use an anesthesia machine, administer drugs, perform an emergency ultrasound, and everything else that goes into real-life medicine.
In the future, a virtual simulation tool like VetVR could complement classroom equipment, making training accessible to many more students, and across distances.
Ultimately, by utilizing Virtual Reality within veterinary medicine, practitioners are able to provide improved outcomes due to its ability to foster a greater understanding of medical treatments and procedures.
Looking ahead into the future of Virtual Reality in veterinary medicine, there are many exciting possibilities that could drastically change the field as we know it today. Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined with VR could be used for automated diagnostics that would not only increase accuracy but reduce time spent making diagnoses thus improving patient care overall. Additionally, advancements such as haptic feedback systems have already begun being integrated into some VR applications allowing users to physically interact with virtual objects — providing an even more realistic learning environment for both students and practitioners alike.
There is also great potential for using Augmented Reality (AR) technologies within the veterinary university hospitals which enable real-life objects or images from X-Rays/MRI scans, etc., to be overlaid onto a physical space giving vets better insight when treating their fluffy patients. All these developments demonstrate just how far-reaching the impact of Virtual Reality will be within veterinary medicine going forward — offering numerous benefits through enhanced diagnosis capabilities along with educational opportunities which extend beyond traditional therapies and practice requirements.
It is undeniable that Virtual Reality has the potential to revolutionize veterinary medicine by providing a cost-effective, immersive experience for students as it integrates advances in technology. With research showing numerous benefits including increased accuracy and improved surgical outcomes, now is the time to focus on its challenges. If properly managed, Virtual Reality can be used to improve veterinary medicine practice and educate the next generation of veterinary medicine practitioners. Its potential will only expand with further research and education into how to use VR more effectively. Indeed, Virtual Reality is going to be a fundamental pillar of the future of education.
For more articles on how VR will impact higher education, see:
Virtual Reality: Trends in Higher Ed for 2023 and Beyond