Houston Methodist Hospital
Dr. Hina Faisal, is a board certified Anesthesiologist and Critical Care Physician. She is a graduate of Dow University of Health Science, Karachi, Pakistan. She did basic surgical training at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and few years of surgery residency at the Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Due to lot of interest in critical care, she changed her career to Anesthesia and then she completed her residency in Anesthesiology at Case Western Reserve University (MetroHealth) Program, Cleveland, Ohio. After residency, she completed a fellowship in Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine at University of Texas Houston- McGovern Medical School.
Dr. Faisal started with Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group, Department of Surgery in March 2019 as a faculty member. As a faculty member Dr. Faisal has assisted the Department of Surgery Residency program with lectures and training. Her clinical expertise is surgical critical care and anesthesiology. She is also a member of American Board of Anesthesiologist and American Medical Association. Her other interest are reading, writing, cooking, singing and gardening. She speaks English, Urdu and Tourist Arabic. Her clinical and teaching interests include regional anesthesia and global health.
Atrium Health
Dr. R. Glenn Gaston has been the Chief of Hand Service for the Department of Orthopeadic Surgery at Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center since 2008 and he is the Program Director for the OrthoCarolina Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship.
Dr. Gaston earned his bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Georgia where he was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He then returned to his home state of Tennessee where he received his medical degree from the University Of Tennessee
College Of Medicine at Memphis. His internship and orthopedic surgery residency were completed at the Atlanta Medical Center. He was awarded a distinguished hand surgery fellowship at the Indiana Hand Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dr. Gaston is heavily involved in upper extremity research and has received numerous honors, including awards from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH). He serves as the hand consultant
for the Carolina Panthers and NASCAR. He was named one of the top 45 hand surgeons in the U.S. by Becker’s ASC in 2011 and has received the Faculty Teaching Award for Carolinas Medical Center Department of Orthopedic Surgery three of the last 10 years.
Dr. Gaston gained national recognition for the development and implementation of the starfish procedure which allowed the first amputee in the world to have individual finger control of a myoelectric prosthesis. Dr. Gaston founded the OrthoCarolina Congenital Hand Clinic, Brachial Plexus Clinic and the Reconstructive Center for Lost Limbs clinic. Recently, Dr Gaston has developed Targeted Brain Rehabiltation as a virtual reality solution for phantom limb pain.
Nationwide Children's
Thipkanok (Ping) Wongphothiphan is a UX researcher specializing in digital health innovation, health communication, and health psychology. She leads user-centered research across a wide range of technologies ranging from mobile applications to emerging platforms such as virtual reality. Ping’s work spans major healthcare domains, where she applies evidence-based, human-centered design to support clinicians, parents, and children. Her expertise includes mixed-methods research and translating scientific and clinical insights into practical, scalable digital solutions that enhance health and well-being.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Hoggatt Krumwiede is currently the dean for the School of Health Professions at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She has a PhD in Learning Technologies and is a Certified Medical Illustrator (CMI). In private industry, she has worked with surgeons, publishers and medical device companies on projects incorporating multimedia and emerging technologies. In higher education Dr. Hoggatt Krumwiede has coordinated and produced large projects involving interactive multimedia, online learning, video and print publication for a variety of audiences including students, researchers, physicians and patients. Her research interests include educational technology, interprofessional education, patient education for medically underserved populations, and research and development of technology applications in biomedical environments. Dr. Hoggatt Krumwiede currently involved in collaborative research focusing on possible applications for virtual reality with adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
Moffitt Cancer Center
Issam El Naqa, PhD is the founding chair of the department of Machine Learning at Moffitt Cancer Center and Professor in oncological sciences Tampa, Florida. He is a certified Medical Physicist by the American Board of Radiology. He is a recognized authority in the fields of machine learning, data analytics, and oncology outcomes modeling and has published extensively in these areas with more than 290+ peer-reviewed journal publications and 5 edited textbooks. He has been a member and fellow of several academic and professional societies, including AAPM, IEEE, AIMBE, BIR. His research has been funded by several federal and private grants in Canada and the USA, and served on national and international study sections. He acts as a peer reviewer and editorial board member for several leading international journals
in his areas of expertise.
Creighton University
Dr. Sarah Ball is an Assistant Professor and the Faculty Chair of the Traditional Undergraduate College of Nursing at Creighton University. With a focus on innovative simulation technology interventions, Dr. Ball’s research is dedicated to advancing assessment and evaluation tools in nursing education, particularly in the realm of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR). She is leading several research initiatives, including the revision of the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (CCEI) to its updated version, CCEI 2.0, and studying its validity and reliability across settings from high fidelity to IVR in real-time scenarios. Additionally, she is exploring the integration of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) with multi-modalities of simulation into pre-licensure nurses' final practicum course to improve practice readiness. Dr. Ball’s expertise and forward-thinking approach to nursing education continue to shape the future of healthcare training, integrating the latest advancements in technology to better prepare nursing students for success in clinical practice.
Sint Maartenskliniek
Remco Hoogendijk (1970) is Innovation Manager at the Sint Maartenskliniek (NL) is engaged in identifying, introducing and implementing exponential techniques in healthcare. Such as eXtended Reality, Sensor Tech, Serious Gaming, Robotics, 3D printing and Artificial Intelligence.
After studying business economics at Radboud University, he worked in various positions on the implementation of complex innovation processes in healthcare.
In 2022 he was one of the founders of the XR4REHAB Collaboration & Innovation Network. He is the current chairman of the XR4REHAB.
He is the lead partner of an EU funded programme (totaling over 12M USD) with 12 partners in 6 countries called SCALE-UP4REHAB which focuses on the large scale implementation of digital therapeutics and especially XR.
Since 2016 Remco has initiated a broad variety of VR and XR initiatives throughout the Sint Maartenskliniek and has great stories to tell about the findings and lessons learned in clinical implementation.
Remco is an optimist and in his talk he will share his vision on a Scaled Up and thriving XR landscape in healthcare.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Jeah Kim is a biomedical communicator who merges scientific accuracy, creative storytelling, and
cutting-edge technology to make science more accessible, meaningful, and inspiring. Her work spans
journal figures, animations, and interactive XR experiences, all driven by a passion for making complex science accessible and engaging.
With experience at a global pharmaceutical company managing clinical studies, as well as close collaboration with surgeons at Samsung Medical Center, she was inspired to pursue visual communication in the medical field. This motivation led her to graduate studies in the Biomedical Communications program at the University of Toronto. There, she developed an interactive training app for physiotherapists, gaining experience in the full process of creating a mobile application, from studying user needs to designing and delivering a functional product.
Her exploration of Unity and work on several AR/VR projects sparked a deep interest in storytelling
through emerging technologies. Thes interest led to an internship at the University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston, Texas where she was able to work in a collaborative research team on a 6-minute walk test in VR for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
Join her journey as she continues to advance biomedical communications at fabulaurora.myportfolio.com.
Moffitt Cancer Center
Gilmer Valdes, PhD, DABR, Co-Founder & CEO OncoBrain Ai Inc.
Leader in the field of Clinical AI and Machine Learning, currently serving as the CEO of the BlueScrubs. Previously Dr Valdes was Vice Chair of Machine Learning and Head of Clinical AI at Moffitt Cancer Center, Faculty at UCSF Radiation Oncology Department, Adjunct Faculty at UC Berkeley Causal Inference and K08 NIH Awarded done under Jerome Friedman at Stanford Statistics Department. Dr. Valdes leads pioneering initiatives to integrate AI into clinical practice, with a special focus on improving patient outcomes through innovative machine learning applications. His research interests include sparse regularization in deep learning, medical reasoning for AI systems, and developing structured approaches to enhance the interpretability and reliability of clinical machine learning models. Dr. Valdes is known for his commitment to making advanced AI tools accessible and effective in real-world healthcare settings, combining rigorous scientific methodology with a deep understanding of clinical needs.
Veterans Health Administration
Dr. Anne Lord Bailey is Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Lab (“Strat Lab”) and Immersive Technology Lead for VHA. Dr. Bailey began as a pharmacy practitioner for Western North Carolina VA Healthcare System (WNCVAHCS) in Asheville, NC, focused on Hepatitis C and innovative care models. In 2017, she began the Innovation Program at WNCVAHCS. In 2021, Dr. Bailey became VHA’s lead for Immersive Technology and then the first Executive Director of Strat Lab in 2023. She has worked with experts and thought leaders in government, academia, and industry, while co-leading the expansion of the VHA Extended Reality (XR) Network from the founding five facilities to over 170, engaging more than 2,900 VA employees, and helping guide implementation of immersive technology use at scale for more than 40 indications. In 2022, Dr. Bailey was awarded International Virtual Reality in Healthcare Association’s Hero Award for dedication to the growth of immersive technology in healthcare, G2Xchange Change Agent Award, and the Service to the Citizen Award. In 2023, she was named a Top 12 Finalist for the Service to America Medal People’s Choice Award and Washington Pinnacles Executive of the Year. In 2024, she became a Washington Pinnacles Healthcare Executives to Watch.
Invincikids
Andre’ Bollaert
Executive Director
Invincikids
With over 25 years of grassroots experience in non-profit program development and organizational growth, Andre' has dedicated his career to fostering equity within underprivileged communities. His expertise spans diverse sectors, including Immersive Technology for Pediatric Populations, Early Childhood Development, Resource Conservation, and Historic Preservation to create Affordable Housing.
At the core of Andre's approach is a commitment to grassroots engagement. He champions the idea that genuine organizational success arises from the collaboration of cohesive teams comprising donors, advocates, constituents, organizational partners, staff, and board members. By prioritizing the needs of underserved and resource-limited groups, Andre' works tirelessly to create a lasting impact in the communities he serves. His focus extends beyond mere organizational achievements to the tangible improvement of the lives of those he seeks to empower.
Ohio State University
Dr. Lauren McInroy is an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University in the College of Social Work. Her multi-disciplinary research has two primary aims: (1) using internet-enabled information and communication technologies (ICTs) to foster improved outcomes and increase well-being for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and/or gender minority (LGBTQ+) adolescents and emerging adults; as well as (2) enhancing the successful application of ICTs in social work research, education, and practice.
USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation
Mynd Immersive
As the CEO and co-founder of Mynd Immersive, Chris leads a digital health company that provides the most advanced spatial computing solutions designed to improve the cognitive, physical, emotional, and spiritual health to this exploding population of older adults.
Prior to Mynd, Chris helped build one of the largest, commercial IP-backbones in the US at GTE (Acquired by Verizon in 1999). He ran the Internet Operations and Global Marketing at British Telecom ushering in a new generation of IP-based communication technologies across five continents. His work in the 2000s and 10s in California was largely devoted to driving value creation in video streaming and automation/AI. He led a large and successful, creative team in Silicon Valley at Guidespark (Acquired by Tivian in 2021).
In 2008, he was nominated for an Emmy in the first year the Academy officially recognized broadband as a category of entertainment. Xlantic has produced projects for Disney Imagineering, Nvidia, Intel, Dole Foods, Restoration Hardware, AOL, AT&T, and many others.
Now, it's time to give back. Our elders have earned these Mynd Immersive experiences and spatial computing technology. This is an exciting new frontier into digital therapeutics.
Aalto University
Marjaana Siivola is a usability engineer (Master and Licentiate of Science (Tech)), a teacher, an elearning specialist, and a childbirth professional. She is an Advanced Certified Birth Doula (DONA) and Lamaze-certified childbirth educator who transformed childbirth education by combining her passion for good usability, online learning and family wellbeing into online childbirth education well before COVID-19. In her latest PhD research, she developed a VR childbirth education program to add experiential learning to childbirth education. Users were an integral part of her research, and parents and midwives provided valuable insights into the program's design.
XR4EUROPE
As Managing Director of XR4Europe, Michael Barngrover leads a pan-European industry association to support and advance XR innovation in Europe. In addition to its matchmaking, research, and thought leadership activities, XR4Europe participates in several EU-funded projects: XR4HUMAN, OPENVERSE, and VR HEALTH CHAMPIONS, through which XR4Europe plays an active role engaging European stakeholders in the EU's strategic initiative for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.
The VR Health Champions project is a three-year initiative co-funded by the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument under the European Regional Development Fund. Its primary goal is to reduce market barriers for healthcare Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) applications in less developed European regions. By strengthening the value chains of five flagship SMEs—Lightspace, MEEVA, MedApp, Metaskills, and Virtuleap—the project aims to advance their Technology Readiness Levels from TRL 6 to TRL 9, facilitating market readiness. XR4Europe plays an important role in the project's cascade funding mechanism to support SMEs in the healthcare XR sector, providing financial resources to advance the development and market readiness of innovative VR and AR applications.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Dr. Nicholas D. Thomson is the Director of Research at VCU Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program, Associate Professor in the Departments of Surgery, Psychology, and Psychiatry, and Forensic Research Psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Thomson’s research has been supported by the CDC and NIH. Dr. Thomson is widely published in forensic psychology and developmental psychopathology, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications, chapters, and a textbook on psychopathy (Understanding Psychopathy: The Biopsychosocial Perspective) and The Handbook of Gun Violence. Dr. Thomson serves on the editorial board for multiple leading journals, including Psychology of Violence. Dr. Thomson pioneered the development of the first VR interventions aimed at promoting gun safety among adults, reducing retaliatory gun violence among youth victims of violence, and preventing youth suicide. He advocates for interdisciplinary research, focusing on mechanistically informed strategies incorporating a biopsychosocial approach to enhance cutting-edge research and effective prevention. His expertise is recognized internationally, and he consults on strategies for preventing gun violence, violent extremism, radicalization, and family-level antisocial behavior. Dr. Thomson has received numerous awards and nominations for his research excellence and innovation, both nationally and internationally, in the fields of externalizing disorders and violence prevention.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
David Aten is a 3D Anatomic Specialist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he designs and produces patient-specific 3D anatomical models for the advancement of surgeon and patient education. He holds an MA from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and is a Certified Medical Illustrator. Dave is also involved in collaborative research focusing on possible applications for virtual reality with adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. He has worked professionally as a medical illustrator for 21 years.
St. Michael's College
Dr. Loisel is an experimental molecular biologist with training and expertise in immunology, gene and protein expression, virology, and genetics and genomics. He has published research on a variety of topics, including the sex-specific genetic architecture of human disease, genetic and viral contributors to childhood asthma risk, gene expression patterns associated with pre-eclampsia, viral detection and surveillance in wildlife, and evolution of primate immune genetic diversity.
Currently, at Saint Michael’s College, Dr. Loisel is co-director of the Stress and Immunology Laboratory that examines the effects of VR-delivered guided meditation on behavioral, autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune responses in human participants, such as student-first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic, NCAA Division II college athletes, and full-time college students.
In addition, Dr. Loisel collaborates with scientists at NASA Johnson Space Center to integrate VR meditation into a stress-relieving countermeasures protocol that aims to prevent immune dysfunction and improve crew health and performance during future long-duration spaceflight missions.
Dr. Loisel’s research has been funded by the NASA Human Research Program, the National Science Foundation, the Vermont Space Grant Consortium, and the Vermont Biomedical Research Network. He received his Ph.D. in evolutionary genetics from Duke University and completed a NIH post-doctoral fellowship in human genetics at the University of Chicago.
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Dr. Rumzie is a registered nurse who currently works as the Innovation Specialist at the Central Arkansas Healthcare System in Little Rock. She holds several degrees including a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Master of Business Administration. In addition, she is a certified Clinical Nurse Leader as well as a Certified Holistic Nurse. Dr. Rumzie started working with Immersive Technology in 2019 at the VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare System and has led many pilots and implementation for this modality. Currently, she leads the VA Immersive Community of Practice focused on the use of Immersive Technology for Employee Well-Being.
She is committed to challenge the status quo by embracing innovative practices to improve the lives of Veterans.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and boating with her family, reading, and traveling (anywhere) and anything to do with the Arkansas Razorbacks - Woo Pig Sooie!
Immergo Labs
Aviv Elor is Co-Founder, President, and Chief Research Officer of Immergo Labs, building one of the world's first embodied XR platforms for physical rehabilitation with full-body AI biomechanics and gamified exercise programs. He holds a Human Computer Interaction PhD and Robotics Engineering BS from UC Santa Cruz, where he conducted over a decade of research on human-centered XR rehabilitation, producing over 25 peer-reviewed publications and earning recognition in Forbes 30 Under 30, ACM, and IEEE while currently serving as an Adjunct Professor. His industry experience spans user research to engineering roles at Meta Reality Labs, NIH, Walt Disney Imagineering, Warner Bros Entertainment, and Google. As Principal Investigator on NSF grants totaling over $1.5 million, Aviv has established partnerships with the Houston VA, APTA, and a Fortune 50 company to translate his research into real-world solutions. Immergo enables full-body avatar interactions between clinicians and patients in shared VR environments, using biomechanical AI for clinical-grade assessment with off-the-shelf XR devices. Aviv's work stems from rupturing his elbow in a national judo competition, driving his mission for developing immersive technologies that enhance human performance and wellbeing. He is passionate about the potential of technology to improve lives and is always excited about opportunities to collaborate.
University of Bristol
Mairi Deighan is a biomedical engineer currently in the final months of her doctoral studies at the University of Bristol, England. Her PhD research focuses on investigating the challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of VR technology in teenage and young adult oncology. During her PhD, Mairi has engaged in collaborative efforts with clinicians, healthcare professionals, and, more recently, a group of young people diagnosed with cancer. Together, they co-designed novel VR applications tailored for cancer services in the UK. Her PhD is funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Mairi’s passion for VR technology stemmed from the research experience obtained during her master’s degree. She developed and tested a VR application designed to evaluate the sound properties of spatialised sound engines. Her overarching goal was to create a virtual hearing assessment for children dealing with single-side deafness. Since then, Mairi has conducted research exploring the use of social virtual reality platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting this work at CHI 2023. Her work promises to be transformative in the emerging field of VR in pediatric and teenage oncology, with broader implications for the intersection of VR technology and healthcare.
Drury University
David Beach is an architect and Professor of Architecture at the Hammons School of Architecture at Drury University. Specializing in digital design technology, David is an advocate of full digital immersion as part of a traditional design process leveraging technology to inform process, collaboration to expand upon results, and precise decision making through analysis. David teaches in the architectural design studios (building scale), the Center for Community Studies (urban scale), and both the introductory and advanced digital design technology courses (virtual scales). Recently, David’s research work has taken architecture into the world of healthcare through the process of Virtual Reality, creating “docummersion” experiences for kids to escape the confines of hospital rooms to promote healing and recovery.
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Jennifer Reneker is the Associate Director of the Clinical and Translational Research Institute at NEOMED and a Professor in the College of Medicine. Her research focuses on innovative, state-of-the-art preventive, diagnostic, and rehabilitative therapies for neurological conditions. Primarily, these efforts have been directed towards the advancement of evidence-based strategies for concussion. Most recently, she has worked with a multi-disciplinary team to develop an innovative application using immersive virtual reality (VR) and a novel artificial intelligence classifier to provide decision support in the diagnosis and management of concussion. Her work has been continuously funded since 2018 through Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and through several state entrepreneurial and innovation initiatives. Jennifer is versed in diagnostic accuracy, psychometric evaluation, validation, and verification methods for clinical measures and devices. Dr. Reneker has robust experience with teaching and mentoring graduate and post-graduate learners in evidence-based practice, innovation, and research methods through academic coursework and as the principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded training program.
National Institutes of Health
Head, Health Communication and Behavior Unit
Director, Immersive Simulation Program
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Associate Investigator and Director of Virtual Reality Lab
National Institutes of Health / National Human Genome Research Institute
Dr. Susan Persky is an associate investigator and unit head within the Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH) where she directs the Immersive Simulation Program (ISP). She earned her Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she studied at the Research Center for Virtual Environments and Behavior. In 2006 she founded the ISP, an immersive technology-based experimental research facility at the NIH Clinical Center. Dr. Persky splits her effort between providing leadership for the ISP and conducting programmatic research on clinical and public health translation of emerging genomics technologies. She has written and presented extensively on methodology, applications, and evaluation of immersive technology in healthcare and behavioral science contexts. Dr. Persky has presented this work in venues such as the Smithsonian Institution and at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
West Virginia University
Dr. Megan Gandy (she/they) is the Principal Investigator of Play Higher ©, an innovative virtual reality initiative that expands behavioral health career access and promotes digital equity among rural K-12 (secondary school) students. Funded through the US Department of Labor and multiple state-level initiatives, Play Higher has emerged as a national model for integrating immersive technology into behavioral health education and workforce development.
Play Higher reimagines career exploration through immersive play, using virtual reality to spark curiosity, elevate ambition, and bridge the gap between underserved students and high-impact careers. By turning career pathways into engaging, hands-on experiences, Play Higher empowers the next generation to rise—academically, professionally, and collectively to build stronger, more vibrant communities. Dr. Gandy’s work explores how emerging technologies like VR can bridge gaps in access, enhance workforce development for health and social service professionals, and promote equitable outcomes for underserved populations.
James A Haley VA Hospital
Dr. Folio is the Imaging Informatics Section Chief in Radiology at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital. He is also a professor in the departments of Oncologic Sciences & Radiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine right next door.
Dr. Folio is also director of imaging informatics in radiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.
From a mixed reality perspective, Dr. Folio started testing augmented reality goggles as he earned his master’s in public health at University of California, Berkeley in 1999.
Dr. Folio co-chairs the Tampa VA’s 3D innovation center where they educate on augmented reality in surgical planning and patient education.
Veterans Health Administration
Shawn Braddock, MEd., is a senior instructional systems specialist for the Veterans Affairs National Simulation Center, SimLEARN. She has worked across K12, higher education, industry, government, and healthcare. She has approximately 20 years’ experience in leading educational and technology initiatives as well as authoring policies that support performance improvement, efficiency in learning and development, and exceeding outcomes for mission success. She currently serves as the senior-level advisor/subject matter expert to the Associate Director of Training, SimLEARN, as a national authority in educational program/project planning and development on a national scale at over 150 remote training locations.
James A Haley VA Hospital
Ben Salatin is an Innovation Specialist at the Tampa VA Hospital who blends a background in mechanical engineering and rehabilitation science to advance frontline innovation for Veterans by coaching VA employee innovators looking to solve tough problems. A former clinical rehabilitation engineer who helped found VA’s national 3D printing user community, he took a turn into the world of immersive technology through the VHA Innovation Ecosystem, excited by the potential for creative problem solving. He has supported several pilot projects with clinicians at VA hospitals and currently promotes exploration and adoption of immersive tech use cases among the clinicians at the Tampa VA. Outside of work, he enjoys sci-fi, a good cappuccino, shady hikes and traveling the world.
James A Haley VA Hospital
Michelle Schlesinger, MOT, OTR/L, CSRS, CFNIP is a dynamic and forward-thinking occupational therapist
and certified yoga instructor with a strong commitment to healthcare innovation and veteran-centered care. Since 2018, she has served at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, FL, where she plays a key role within the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Program and serves as an active leader on the Veterans Experience Committee.
Michelle brings specialized expertise in functional medicine and physical rehabilitation, blending clinical
excellence with integrative, evidence-based strategies that enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. Her approach is rooted in compassion, creativity, and a deep understanding of the unique needs of the veteran population.
A recognized innovator, Michelle leads the integration of virtual reality (VR) into occupational therapy treatment and hospital staff training, with a focus on initiatives like “Moments That Matter”—designed to elevate provider empathy. Since 2021, she has been actively involved in VR research and implementation, helping to shape the future of immersive therapeutic interventions. Michelle is a proud graduate of Nova Southeastern University and a member of the Alpha Eta Honor Society. Her work reflects a deep passion for empowering individuals through meaningful, transformative care that bridges traditional practice with cutting-edge innovation.
Heka VR
Sara Leander-Pehrson is the CEO of Heka VR, a pioneering health tech company transforming severe mental health care through immersive virtual reality experiences. With a background in international business and venture building, as well as a passion for accessible, scalable mental health solutions, Sara leads Heka’s mission to deliver clinically validated VR therapy across global healthcare systems.
IterationZero
Principal Consultant
IterationZero LLC
Laura Kusumoto is a proven executive leader, skilled in the disciplines of technology innovation. Her expertise is seeing beyond hype and harnessing the business value that emerging and disruptive technologies can bring to work. Applying experiences from working for Meta, Deloitte, Disney, Kaiser Permanente, LEGO and more, her passion is helping organizations identify the best problems to target with innovative solutions, and driving towards their successful piloting and implementation. Her work has paved the way for first-mover products such as AI chatbots in health care, immersive avatar-based training, VR for employee well-being, and beyond.
In 2023, Laura formed IterationZero LLC as a boutique consultancy offering innovation services that enable emerging technologies for the benefit of business and everyday work within the enterprise. Laura serves on the Board Executive Committee for the Virtual Worlds Society, and on the Advisory Board for XR Women.
Veterans Health Administration
Director, Clinical Technology Innovation
Innovation Ecosystem, Systems Design Lead
Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Caitlin Rawlins has been a Nurse since 2011 and with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 2017. In her first year of VA practice, she initiated the first positive distraction-focused virtual reality program for pain and anxiety management in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Ms. Rawlins then co-led the development of the VHA Extended Reality Network and played an integral role in the creation of the VA Immersive Program. She now continues to aid in leading VHA innovation and immersive technology utilization as Director of Clinical Tech Innovation, Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning’s Immersive Lead, Innovation Ecosystem Systems Design Lead, and co-lead of the Enabling Excellence in Emerging Health Tech (E3) Alliance and E3 Operations Workgroup in the Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning. Since 2017, she has directly supported the expansion of XR technology use from just a few sites to over 90% of VA Healthcare Systems and XR network engagement to more than 3,000 VA employees, including working as program manager, leading national pilots, facilitating data collection, and the developing healthcare integration resources in close collaboration with various VA program offices.
Persistent Technology
Anju Bhargava, Ph.D. has her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Washington State
University and her Bachelor of Arts from Whitman College. She has been a licensed psychologist since 2014. She brings extensive experience in clinical psychology, including specialized experience in telepsychological health, behavioral health tools and technology, and operational psychology. She has a track record of successful project leadership spanning the private and military sector.
John Brown University
Rodney A. Fry, MA, MDIV, MS, LPC-S, RPT-S holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Brown University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor with specialized training as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), as well as in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and technology-assisted counseling. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas, and a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Rodney is currently pursuing his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Regent University.
Originally from Mountain Home, Arkansas, Rodney is married and the father of six children. He works with individuals, couples, children, adolescents, groups, and families, and is especially passionate about helping children and adolescents heal from trauma. In addition to his work in the United States, Rodney is actively involved in trauma-informed counseling and therapeutic support with children and adolescents in Ukraine.
Rodney understands that life’s challenges can feel overwhelming and that taking the first step toward counseling is often the hardest. He is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can feel heard, understood, and empowered. His goal is to walk alongside each person as they navigate obstacles, foster healing, and move toward living with greater hope, resilience, and purpose.
Regent University
Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor with nine years of experience, specializing in trauma-focused therapy for first responders and military families. Currently pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, she has a strong interest in counselor advocacy, counselor development, multicultural awareness, neuropsychology of trauma, EMDR, and technology-assisted therapy. Outside of her professional life, she is married with three children, and she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with our pets, friends, and family.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH)
Dr. Zachary Abramson
Assistant Professor
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH)
I am a physician-scientist with unique training, expertise, and passion for 3D virtual surgical planning. I received my dental degree from Harvard and completed a research fellowship in craniofacial imaging, where I studied the three-dimensional characteristics of the upper airway in patients with sleep apnea. Following this research fellowship, I completed an oral and maxillofacial surgery internship at Massachusetts General Hospital. To pursue my passion for imaging research, I obtained a medical degree from the University of Tennessee, completed radiology residency at Baptist Hospital, and a pediatric radiology subspecialty fellowship at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Presently, I am an assistant professor at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), specializing in 3D virtual surgical planning. My research focuses on the development of 3D visualization workflows and the targeted application of these workflows to clinical and scientific applications.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Anthony Fuentes is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, and now a 3rd year M.D./M.P.H. candidate at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine with interests in surgery, public health systems, and healthcare technology. He is a co-founder of the Rapid Access Wellness (RAW) Clinic, a student-run initiative at the UM Miller School of Medicine addressing gaps in sexual health and HIV care through scalable, low-resource clinical workflows. His academic work spans endocrine surgery outcomes, health disparities, and the application of artificial intelligence and imaging technologies to improve diagnostic accuracy and procedural consistency. Clinically, he thrives in surgical environments that integrate technical precision, teamwork, and real-time problem solving. Anthony is committed to inclusive care and aims to leverage emerging technologies, including virtual reality, to improve training, access, and healthcare delivery at scale.
Totems of Hope
Simeone Scaramozzino is an XR director–producer, neuroaesthetic artist, and trauma-informed somatic practitioner working at the intersection of immersive technology, nervous system regulation, and participatory design. He facilitates regulated, consent-based experiences that bridge art, technology, and human regulation, creating immersive environments that support presence, self-regulation, and prosocial engagement through carefully paced, embodied interaction.
He is the creator of Totems of Hope – Your Brain on Immersive Philanthropy, a modular neuroaesthetic XR installation that integrates symbolic interaction, spatial sequencing, and non-invasive neurofeedback tools, including Enophone brain-sensing technology, to explore how embodied experiences may support attentional focus and autonomic nervous system regulation
His previous work includes directing the Immersive Virtual Temple trilogy for the Burning Man Project and developing large-scale poetic XR performances exploring memory, ecology, and collective reflection, including a water-centred immersive work scored by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Across these projects, he designs environments that prioritise regulation, agency, and embodied meaning over spectacle.
Alongside his technological work, Simeone leads small-group, trauma-informed programmes focused on contemplative practice, nervous system regulation, and self-leadership, developed in close relationship with Amazonian Shipibo-Konibo communities. His qualifications include advanced certification in Somatic Experiencing®, a 500-hour yoga and meditation certification completed in India, and prior executive experience working with Fortune 500 organisations.
University of Central Florida
Gregory Welch is a Pegasus Professor and the AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing. A computer scientist and engineer, he also has appointments in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and in the Institute for Simulation & Training. Welch earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology from Purdue University (Highest Distinction), and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Previously, he was a research professor at UNC. He also worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and at Northrop-Grumman’s Defense Systems Division. His research interests include human-computer interaction, human motion tracking, virtual and augmented reality, computer graphics and vision, and training related applications. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). His awards include induction into the IEEE Virtual Reality Academy in 2022, the IEEE Virtual Reality Technical Achievement Award in 2018 (VR 2018), and the Long Lasting Impact Paper Award at the 15th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR 2016).
Moffitt Cancer Center
Dr. Sarah Hoffe is the Section Head of GI Radiation Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center and joined the faculty in 2006. She is a Senior Member at Moffitt and Professor in the University Of South Florida Morsani College Of Medicine’s Department of Oncologic Sciences. Dr. Hoffe’s research and clinical interests include cancers of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, bile duct, rectum, colon, anus, as well as neuroendocrine cancers. She has experience with advanced radiation therapy techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), three dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), radioembolization, and image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) using endoscopically implanted fiducial markers. At Moffitt, she works closely with her multidisciplinary colleagues including GI surgeons, medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists and pathologists to develop new treatments for patients with GI cancers. She is very interested in 4D PET/CT imaging and works with the PET/CT committee at Moffitt In addition to GI cancers and radiation oncology, Dr. Hoffe is also interested in the integration of novel patient engagement technologies that will improve the patient experience, such as piloting novel virtual reality tools. After completing her undergraduate studies at Brown University, Dr. Hoffe received her MD degree from the University of Vermont. She then completed a transitional year internship at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville followed by residency in radiation oncology at Duke University Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Hoffe devotes a significant portion of her time to the promotion of medical education. Nationally, she is the Director of eContouring at ASTRO, is on the advisory board for the Contemporary Radiation Oncology Journal, and is a contributor to the Up to Date Online educational site, having co-authored the section on bone metastases. She serves on the ASTRO Education Committee and the HIMSS connected patient committee. Locally, she is on the Editorial Board of Cancer Control Journal and is active at the USF Morsani College of Medicine where she is a coach for the SELECT program and the leadership competency co-director. In 2009, Dr. Hoffe was the first radiation oncologist at Moffitt to be selected as the Physician of the Year.
Stanford University
Conference Co-Chair
Behavioral Neuroscientist
Stanford University
Walter Greenleaf is a neuroscientist and a medical technology developer working at Stanford University. With over three decades of research and development experience, Walter is considered a leading authority in the field of digital medicine and medical virtual reality technology.
Research Focus:
Walter’s current research focus is on developing computer supported clinical products, with a specific emphasis on applying virtual reality and digital health technology to address difficult problems in behavioral and physical medicine such as Post-traumatic Stress, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke, Addictions, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
His early research was on age-related changes in the neuroendocrine system and the effects on human behavior.
Academic Positions:
Walter is currently a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s MediaX Program, a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, and the Director of Technology Strategy at the University of Colorado National Mental Health Innovation Center. He previously served as the Director of the Mind Division, Stanford Center on Longevity, where his focus was on age-related changes in cognition.
Medical Product Development:
Walter has designed and developed numerous clinical systems over the last thirty-five years, including products in the fields of: surgical simulation, 3D medical visualization, telerehabilitation, clinical informatics, clinical decision support, point-of-care clinical data collection, ergonomic evaluation technology, automatic sleep-staging systems, psychophysiological assessment, and simulation-assisted rehabilitation technologies, as well as digital eHealth products for behavioral medicine.
Academic Leadership:
Walter is the Co-founder and Board Chair for the International Virtual Reality Health Association (IVRHA).
He helped establish the California State University Center for Disability Solutions and the International Society of Virtual Rehabilitation (ISVR). Walter is a scientific advisor and grant reviewer for the U.S. Public Health Service, National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), NASA, and the U.S. Department of Education (DoED). He has served as the Principal Investigator for research projects funded by the NIH and by NASA.
Corporate Management:
Walter founded and served as CEO for Greenleaf Medical Systems, a medical product development company; InWorld Solutions, a company specializing in the therapeutic use of virtual worlds for behavioral health care; and Virtually Better, a company that develops virtual environments for the treatment of phobias, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. Walter was the founding Chief Science Officer for Pear Therapeutics.
Academic Journals:
Walter is an Associate Editor for three academic journals: JMIR Mental Health, the Journal of Virtual Reality in Medicine, and Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
Current Board Positions:
Walter serves on the Board of Directors for Brainstorm: The Stanford Laboratory for Brain Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship; for Cognitive Leap, a company that develops mental health solutions for children; and for Sine Wave, the developer of Sine Space, a multi-user online Unity 3D-based virtual world platform. He is currently the technology and neuroscience advisor to several early-stage medical product companies.
Walter earned a Doctorate in Neuro and Bio-Behavioral Sciences from the Stanford University School of Medicine, where he was awarded a NIMH Graduate Fellowship.
IVRHA
Executive Director
IVRHA (International Virtual Reality and Healthcare Association)
Professor
Champlain College
Professor
West Virginia University
Founder
VRVoice, The Social Media Monthly and The Startup Monthly Websites/Magazines
Council Member
AWE (Augmented World Expo) Advisory Council
Founder
Share The Cheer
In 2009, Robert started Cool Blue Media by organizing the first social media conference on the east coast of the United States, leading to the publication of the text book, "The Big Book of Social Media Case Studies, Stories and Perspectives" and shortly thereafter the only printed magazine covering social media, The Social Media Monthly. In May 2016, he launched VRVoice.co, a content vertical exploring virtual reality in the enterprise. In 2017, Robert started the largest annual conference on virtual reality and healthcare with events taking place both in the US and Europe.
Prior to 2009, Robert was the Senior Director of Global Strategy and Development of IT at Conservation International (CI). Robert joined CI in 2000 to take responsibility for connecting all of CI’s forty field offices to the Internet with broadband connectivity. During his 10 year tenure, he built an international staff of 25 IT professionals.
Robert has over ten years of additional work experience as a systems and sales engineer with various companies including CMGI, Hughes Network Systems, ioWave and Raytheon. Robert has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Villanova University, a master’s degree in environmental science and public policy from Johns Hopkins University, and is ABD at George Mason University.
Please Note: Posters will be viewable and on display during all three days of the conference in the exhibition hall. Poster presenters can discuss their poster and findings with interested attendees during both the lunch and breaks on Saturday, February 28th.
Kedron Burnett (Department of Veterans Affairs) – “Leveraging VHA’s Synchronous Telehealth Platform to Pilot Immersive Technologies for Remote Provider-Patient Interaction in the Clinical Resource Hub“
Maeher Sukhija (University of South Florida College of Medicine) – “The Potential of Virtual Reality Use for the Treatment of Pain in the Special Operational Forces Community“
Dr. Byeol Kim (University of South Florida Health Center of Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation) – “Design of a Customizable 3D-Printed Smartphone XR Goggle for Personalized Fit and Visual Comfort“
Robin White Owen (MediaCombo) – “ViTaLS: Visual Thinking and Learning Strategies: Enhancing Health Professions Education through Virtual Reality Enabled Art Museum Experiences: An NIH Funded Study“
Prof. Dr. Tugba Tokel (METU) – “Exploring the Effectiveness of 3D Virtual Environments in Online Counseling: A Multi-Platform Latin Square Experimental Study”
Dr.Kimberly Ann Hoggart Krumwiede, David Aten, Jeah Kim (University of Texas MD Anderson) – “Transposing the Six-Minute Walk Test into Virtual Reality to Preserve Clinical Reliability and Enhance Engagement in AYA Cancer Survivors“
Dr. Patricia Rocco (University of Arizona) – “Feasibility of Telerehabilitation in Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome”
Javier Garcia, Sara Melendez, Elizabeth Olmos (Texas A&M International University) – “From Virtual to Vital: Bridging the Classroom to the Bedside with Immersive VR Simulation”
Dr. Victor Talbot (Playing Forward) – “Building a Mobile and Virtual Reality Application to Address Child Suicide and Ideation”
Dr. Walter Greenleaf
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
- coffee -
Location: Exhibition Hall
Dr. Isaam El Naqa
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Gilmer Valdes
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Laura Kusumoto
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Kim Hoggatt Krumwiede
Co-presenting with:
David Etan, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Jeah Kim, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
- lunch -
Location: Exhibition Hall
Dr. Mairi Therese Deighan
Co-Presenting with Dr. Anju Corbishdale
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
- who? what? why? -
Aubrey Shick
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
- coffee -
Location: Exhibition Hall
Dr. Zachary Abramson
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Les Folio
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Remco Hoogendijk
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
- cake -
Cake & Champagne (Sponsored by Healium)
Location: Exhibition Hall
Dr. Sarah Ball
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Megan Gandy
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
David Beach
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Hina Faisal
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Ping Wongphothiphan
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Sara Leander-Pehrson
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
- lunch -
Location: Exhibition Hall
David Beach
Location: Ted & Ferman Family Conference Room
Just over a decade ago, Drury University started a MedVR think tank with Olivia Davis, the Assistant Curator for Fine Arts at Montefiore Medical Center in Brooklyn. From 2016 to present, flowing from conceptual design thinking to content creators has been a process that has linked architecture, computer science, medicine, pharmacology, education, and most importantly hope: our common course to build therapeutic spaces for kids.
Co-Presenting with:
Ross Taylor, Drury University
Taylor Boese, Drury University
Justin Basier, Drury University
Cody Lourenco, Drury University
Hope Hassel, Drury University
Katy Melton, Drury University
Dr. Aviv Elor
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Dagan Loisel
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
- coffee -
Location: Exhibition Hall
Dr. Ping Wongphothiphan
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Byeol Kim
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Anne Lord Bailey
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Led by Chris Brickler, Mynd Immersive
Dr. Susan Persky
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Jennifer C. Reneker
Co-presenting with:
Robert Fine, IVRHA
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Aubrey Shick
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Caitlin Rawlins, MSN, RN, CHFM
Co-Presenting with Shawn Braddock
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Ben Salatin
Co-Presenting with Michelle Schlesinger
Co-Presenting with Dr. Megan Rumzie
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Glenn Gaston
Dr. Nicholas Thomson
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Anthony J. Fuentes
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Sarah Tajran
Andre Bollaert
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Dr. Lauren McInroy
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
Simeone Scaramozzino
Rodney Fry
Co-Presenting with Jennifer Brea, Regent University
Location: Ted & Marty Couch Auditorium
World of Beer
2815 E Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33612
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Restaurant Details
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