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a virtual reality headset

On December 12 and 13, 2024, researchers, clinicians, and students from Ithaca, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine will meet in Willard Straight Hall for the Immersive Media in Medicine Symposium. Attendees will have the opportunity to present recent work, learn about funding opportunities, and initiate collaborations.

Well-Being and Learning Applications for Augmented and Virtual Reality

The symposium is co-chaired by two researchers who understand how to leverage the transformative potential of augmented and virtual reality in medical education and healthcare: Weill Cornell Medicine's Dr. JoAnn Difede, a pioneer in virtual reality treatments for PTSD, and Cornell University's Dr. Andrea Stevenson Won, director of the Virtual Embodiment Lab. 

Difede is a Professor of Psychiatry and founding director of the Virtual Reality Lab and the Program for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Studies. Her work spans survivors of various traumas, including the 9/11 attacks, combat, and burns, and the work has been featured in popular media outlets such as the New York Times, Crain's Business, Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, Washingtonian Magazine, National Public Radio, The MacNeill-Lehrer Report, NBC, CBS, ABC with Peter Jennings, and CNN.

Stevenson Won's lab's research focuses on how mediated experiences change people’s perceptions, especially in immersive media. She has received funding from the Department of Defense, National Institute on Aging, and NSF to investigate the clinical applications of virtual reality and how nonverbal behavior as rendered in virtual environments affects collaboration and teamwork.

Together, Difede and Stevenson Won organized a rich agenda where purposely short talks create space for audience participation in topics like VR for beginners, interventions for pain, and how to write a fundable grant proposal. Read the speaker bios for a better idea of the breadth of experience this symposium encompasses. All the speakers are from Cornell, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Because the goal of this symposium is to foster collaboration and innovation, attendees are encouraged to present their own recent research and engage in discussions about future projects. 

Two No-Cost Days in December

The event is completely free, and there is also an option to participate via Zoom. Registration is limited to Cornell affiliates, with bus and lodging accommodations available on a first-come, first-served basis for participants traveling from New York. 

The first day will feature faculty presentations and a poster reception, allowing participants to network and share insights. The second day will include breakout sessions for focused discussions on collaborative initiatives and grant proposals.

This symposium promises to be a galvanizing platform for advancing the use of immersive media in medicine, paving the way for enhanced educational practices and patient care. 

Registration Deadlines

Registration remains open until December 10th for virtual participants. In-person participants must register soon.

  • November 18 - in-person, NYC Cornell Tech and Weill Cornell Medicine, remaining first-come, first-served spots for bus and lodging 
  • November 24 - in-person, no bus or lodging
  • December 10 - Zoom

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