---
title: Medical Training Comes to Life in UMD’s VR Simulation
date: 2024-10-02T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/medical-training-comes-to-life-in-umds-vr-simulation"
section: Articles
---
# Medical Training Comes to Life in UMD’s VR Simulation

*October 2, 2024* — by [John Tucker](/author/john-tucker)


> Physician Assistant Program at UMB Will Introduce Technology for Stroke Assessment

*Holo Camera Video Screenshot 1920x1080 — Cheri Hendrix, director of the physician assistant (PA) program at UMB, examines an actor portraying a stroke victim inside UMD's HoloCamera. “Immersive interactivity is more educationally engaging than watching a video or flipping through a book,” says Amitabh Varshney, dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, who is leading the HoloCamera project. Below, from left, Hendrix and Varshney.*

The 76-year-old patient in the doctor’s office suddenly becomes mute and can’t move her right arm—classic symptoms of a stroke.

Cheri Hendrix, director of the physician assistant (PA) program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore goes into assessment mode, her voice growing urgent. “Tell me what day it is,” she says as she checks for a heart rate. “Tell me where you are.”

The scene isn’t playing out in real life. It’s a 3-D training simulation representing a common stroke scenario. Soon, PA program students outfitted with virtual reality (VR) goggles will be able to immerse themselves in the experience, watching Hendrix evaluate the patient as if they were with her, seeing what Hendrix sees and even “walking around” in virtual space to view the exam from different vantages.


*Hendriz and Varshney*




**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Artificial Intelligence](https://today.umd.edu/topic/artificial-intelligence), [Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality](https://today.umd.edu/topic/augmented-reality-virtual-reality), [Computer Science](https://today.umd.edu/topic/computer-science), [Health Care](https://today.umd.edu/topic/health-care), [Research Impact](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research-impact), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)