Alana Gonzalez

Writ106

College Of Education, Montclair State University

Review of Articles:

1. Our PlanetArticles about the planet Earth and science. (2021, December 10). The role of metaverse in revolutionizing medical education. Our Planet. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://ourplnt.com/metaverse-medical-education/

This article explains the metaverse and its future potential for medical education. It starts by answering the following question: what is the metaverse? Then, it proceeds to explain how it will be beneficial for medical education. They include a picture of virtual surgery. The metaverse’ many components will help in medical diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. Physicians are already using virtual reality to teach other doctors and medical staff. VR has already been shown to improve patients with dementia. In even, the most basic operations, such as intravenous injections and blood draws, new technology like Accuvein’s skin-projected vein map may improve outcomes. This platform guarantees that everyone gets the most satisfactory healthcare training at any place and at any time. It also makes it possible for physicians all over the world to collaborate.

This is beneficial to my paper because it has told me that virtual medical education is already a thing, and has been very successful thus far. It’s also given me examples of its success such as physicians already using it for educational purposes. I’m also able to mention the different resources that become available to med students if they use this platform.

2. Marr, B. (2022, February 25). The amazing possibilities of healthcare in the metaverse. Forbes. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2022/02/23/the-amazing-possibilities-of-healthcare-in-the-metaverse/?sh=25a7ee849e5c

This article explains telemedicine- the provision of medicine as a remote service. For routine consultations that don't require physical interaction, physicians are finding it easier to diagnose minor illnesses through phone or video calls. VR makes it possible to do consultations from anywhere in the world. VR is already used by psychologists and psychiatrists in aversion therapy, where patients can interact with situations that cause them anxiety, in safe environments where every aspect of the interaction can be closely monitored and controlled. A digital twin is a virtual model, and you can make patients out of this in the metaverse. Jack Altus believes that digital twins will eventually become “test dummies' ' for individuals that can be used to predict everything from how we will recover from surgery to the reactions we will have to specific medicines. A virtual reality hospital environment is accessed through a headset, where treatments will at first be focused around counseling and physiotherapy services. Physiotherapy will make use of computer vision – for example, using cameras to investigate the range of motion in damaged joints, as well as the progress that patients are making towards recovery. Latus says, "With VR and AR, we're able to give them much better feedback on their process.”

Although this article doesn’t necessarily tell me how med students will study in the metaverse, it gives examples of how the metaverse will be used in the medical field. This gives me the idea that it's been developing for quite some time now, meaning it’ll be very successful when the time comes. This just means that med students should prepare to learn how to use this platform because the majority of their work will be done virtually. This article includes examples of what type of work they can expect to be doing.

3. Murtha, J. (2022, January 24). Is the metaverse the new frontier in medicine? Mdlinx. Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://www.mdlinx.com/article/is-the-metaverse-the-new-frontier-in-medicine/4lN14X9eyCaeoOFEXWbQVo

Gives the exact definition of the metaverse. Meta-health will let patients create avatars to receive proper health care, like treatments and diagnostics. Medical schools also are using VR for surgical training. One of these schools is UConn Health, the University of Connecticut’s medical center. UConn Health uses Oculus technology to train orthopedic surgery residents by enabling them to perform 3D, virtual orthopedic surgeries, such as placing pins in broken bones. The residents have the freedom to make mistakes and correct them with feedback from superiors. The 3D technology is the product of a collaboration between Oculus and a Canadian medical software company called PrecisionOS. Access to 3D anatomical images significantly improved doctors’ surgical techniques.

This article provides specific examples as to how the metaverse will help med students! It allows me to list several different examples in my paper, along with the successful outcomes. Also provides a school that’s already using this virtual learning, I can also use this in my paper to showcase the potential future for medical students.

4. Walsh, B. (2021, December 8). The Virtual Medical Student. Axios. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.axios.com/extended-reality-virtual-medical-education-10057950-0aac-4fa2-be9f-2aac1b9d7ac6.html

This article pretty much sums up the life of a virtual medical student. They go over why it matters, what's happening, and how it works. They include specific details about the tools that will be used and the benefits of learning virtually. They even include a university that is already using this learning method.

This is extremely useful for the overall quality of my paper. I’m able to include specific details and create a clear vision for my audience. I’m also able to create different scenarios and examples to further prove my point.

5. Cripps, C. (2022, January 27). The future of healthcare in the metaverse. GMW3. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from

https://www.gmw3.com/2022/01/the-future-of-healthcare-in-the-metaverse/amp/

This article provides insight on digital twins and our potential “virtual profiles”. They explain how having a digital twin (avatar) with its profile will make virtual doctor visits exceptionally easy. Digital twins will also be used for educational purposes, such as standard treatments and surgeries. This is a huge advantage for med students. Surgeons around the world are already practicing this to better prepare them for surgery. They also include some predictions that they have for future med students in the metaverse. Also includes examples of how VR is already being used to treat patients.

This article will help me include more examples of how med students will be learning in the metaverse. It also gives me a better understanding of what the metaverse provides med students, education-wise. I also liked that they included information about how the pandemic has made people more technically inclined. This is important to know because it shows that med students won't have a problem adapting to this learning environment.

6. CoinYuppie. (2021, December 17). Metaverse is not a utopian healthcare field that has already benefited from it. CoinYuppie. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://coinyuppie.com/metaverse-is-not-a-utopian-healthcare-field-that-has-already-benefited-from-it/

Explains how healthcare will benefit from the metaverse. Goes more in-depth about the doctor-patient procedure that med students should expect in the metaverse. Explains Microsoft’s immersive doctor-patient interactive experience. Includes step-by-step instructions on how to achieve a great doctor's visit virtually. Includes specific examples of how this will help med students.

This is a great article for me to refer to when I need further examples. This also gave me insight into Microsoft’s involvement in the metaverse. It’s a key component in helping med students learn more efficiently.

7. Kye, B., Han, N., Kim, E., Park, Y., & Jo, S. (2021, December 13). Educational applications of metaverse: Possibilities and limitations. Journal of educational evaluation for health professions. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8737403/

This article defines the 4 types of the metaverse and explains the potential and limitations of its educational applications. The 4 types: are augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror world, and virtual reality. States that virtual reality is the best form for educational purposes. Also includes background information on the metaverse concept.

This article isn’t entirely helpful to the development of my paper. However, it is good to know the advantages and disadvantages of learning in the metaverse. Whether or not I agree with this new learning platform, I must include good and bad points, to educate my audience.

8. Koo, H. (2021, December 31). Training in lung cancer surgery through the metaverse, including extended reality, in the smart operating room of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea. Journal of educational evaluation for health professions. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8810683/

Provides detailed information on training in lung cancer surgery through the metaverse. Explains how med students participating in this wore a headpiece, sat in front of computers, created an avatar, and entered their virtual operating room. They sat and watched as surgeons demonstrated a step-by-step lung cancer surgery. Participants expressed that it looked and felt real, especially because they could view the operating room at 360 degrees, along with the surgeons and nurses virtually present.

This article provides specific evidence that learning in the metaverse is not only possible but extremely effective. I can use this to further expand on my topic. I can also use this article to provide details on how this process will plan out.

9. Georgallides, G. (n.d.). Metaverse: The Next Healthcare Frontier? Basis Blog. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.basishealth.io/blog/metaverse-the-next-healthcare-frontier

Explains briefly what the metaverse is. Then goes on to talk about how the metaverse has made its way into the Medical school curriculum. It’s described as an improvement in the transition between theoretical to practical medicine. Says that the Metaverse could become the most important surgical training tool in our arsenal.

This article is yet another key component of my essay. It provides specific examples of how med students will benefit from the metaverse. It also talks about how the metaverse will affect fitness and aging- which isn’t relevant to my topic but it was very interesting to read.

10. Drozdowski, M. (2022, March 15). Higher education in the metaverse: BestColleges. BestColleges.com. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/analysis/2022/03/15/higher-education-in-the-metaverse/

Provides examples of virtual components being used currently at universities. Describes life as a college student in the metaverse, mentions tuition, and class meetings. Says that the metaverse will end traditional trappings of college life such as dorm living, campus food, football games, and many more. Technology already has a huge impact on the way we learn, the metaverse is only going to expand on that, and soon our way of learning will be unrecognizable.

Although this article does not focus on med students in the metaverse, I still chose it because of its focus on learning in the metaverse altogether. It’s no doubt that learning virtually will soon become the new normal for education. However, I still hope to include in my essay the hardships some med students might experience while learning in this new platform