Teaching Improvement Activities

Simulation-Based Education: VR-HEAL

Institution Duke Bass Connections
Dates 2024–2025

Traditional procedural training in interventional radiology depends on expensive cadaver labs or live patient observation, limiting access and scalability. VR-HEAL directly addresses this by building immersive VR simulations for tunneled catheter placement.

  • Designed the curriculum and VR modules to mirror real procedural steps encountered by IR trainees.
  • Iteratively tested the software with medical students and incorporated their feedback into subsequent builds.
  • Outcome: Won the 2025 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase for best showcase work.

Accessibility in Anatomy Education

Institution Duke University School of Medicine
Dates 2024–Present
  • Developing customized education modules for anatomy students with learning accommodations.
  • Adapting dissection review materials to multiple learning modalities: visual aids, hands-on kinesthetic exercises, and verbal walkthroughs.
  • Goal: Ensure that anatomy education is effective for all learners regardless of learning style or accommodation needs.

Free-Access Online Course Design

Platform Coursera / Duke University
Dates 2021
  • Made the Space Medicine Coursera course certificate entirely free, removing cost as a barrier to entry.
  • This was an unprecedented decision in Duke’s Coursera catalog, reflecting a commitment to equitable access in medical education.

From Classroom to Global Platform

Institutions Duke University, Baylor College of Medicine (TRISH)
Dates 2020–2021
  • Converted the 12-week in-person Space Health 101 Duke House Course into a publicly available online lecture series hosted by Baylor’s Translational Research Institute for Space Health.
  • Iterated on lecture recordings and supplemental materials based on student feedback across two semesters.
  • Expanded reach from a single Duke undergraduate classroom to a global online audience via the TRISH Orbit Platform.