Graduate Certificate in VR Approaches for Comfort and Support
Published on June 28, 2025
About this Podcast
HOST: Welcome to our podcast, today I'm excited to have Dr. Sofia Rodriguez, an expert in Virtual Reality and health care. She's here to talk about a new course she's teaching, the Graduate Certificate in VR Approaches for Comfort and Support. Welcome, Sofia! GUEST: Thanks for having me! I'm looking forward to discussing this exciting new course. HOST: To start, can you share what inspired you to create this Graduate Certificate in VR Approaches for Comfort and Support? GUEST: Of course. I noticed a growing interest in VR for health care applications, and I wanted to equip healthcare professionals and researchers with the necessary skills to design and implement effective VR experiences for pain management, anxiety reduction, and therapeutic interventions. HOST: That sounds fascinating. How do you see VR being used in healthcare right now, and what trends do you expect to see in the future? GUEST: Virtual reality is already being used for various health care applications, from exposure therapy for anxiety disorders to distraction techniques during painful procedures. As VR technology advances, I expect to see more personalized and immersive experiences, as well as better data analysis tools to evaluate VR's impact on patient outcomes. HOST: Those are promising developments. What challenges have you faced or anticipate when teaching this subject to students? GUEST: One challenge is the rapid pace of VR technology. Keeping up with the latest advancements and ensuring students learn relevant skills can be difficult. Additionally, teaching 3D modeling and interaction design principles specific to VR requires a balance between theoretical understanding and hands-on practice. HOST: That's a great point. Lastly, how do you envision the role of VR in the future of healthcare, particularly in comfort and support? GUEST: I believe VR has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by offering innovative, patient-centered solutions for managing pain, reducing anxiety, and providing therapeutic interventions. As more healthcare professionals and researchers become familiar with VR technology, we'll likely see a surge in the development of evidence-based VR applications that can significantly improve patient care and outcomes. HOST: Thank you, Dr. Rodriguez, for sharing your insights on this exciting new course and the future of VR in healthcare. I'm sure our audience has gained valuable information and is eager to learn more about the Graduate Certificate in VR Approaches for Comfort and Support. Thanks for joining us today! GUEST: Thank you for having me! It was a pleasure discussing this topic with you.
