In our most recent Digital Health Institute for Transformation (DHIT) Happy Hour, the DHIT team traveled to American Underground, a premier coworking community for innovators, creators, and changemakers in the heart of downtown Durham, North Carolina. The event was a joint venture with AWE Nite NC Triangle in collaboration with the Lenovo ThinkReality team, providing them and other industry partners the opportunity to showcase their latest XR solutions for healthcare.
Attended by more than 70 digital health enthusiasts, scholars, and educators, the fireside chat moderated by Brian Moynihan and consisting of panelists Don Shin, Mike Leach, and Christi Fenison was the highlight of the evening.
Moynihan, a longtime DHIT partner and XR and spatial computing expert, brought a wealth of digital health experience to the panel. Shin brings many years of VR/AR experience and currently sits as the president of CrossComm, Inc.. Leach also holds tenure at Lenovo and oversees global strategy solutions for Lenovo Workstations. Finally, Fenison, a former DHIT featured speaker, is the co-founder of Cause + Christi and leads an immersive technology initiative at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
During the fireside chat, Moynihan bridged the gap between virtual and immersive reality and healthcare by asking where the panelists see the greatest impact. Shin replied that “VR is going to revolutionize telehealth, democratizing access to healthcare, particularly for rural areas; allowing for collaborative healthcare and data visualization; and revolutionizing training in medical education.” When asked about the biggest challenges facing innovation and XR in the health space, Leach noted that these conversations need to “extend beyond the board room – these projects are too siloed.” He questioned that nearly everyone has a smartphone, so why does everyone not have access to digital health resources?
Additionally, all panelists exchanged experiences related to their personal line of work and XR integration. Shin referenced how during COVID, he purchased VR headsets for his entire team to “feel connected” in light of isolation and quarantine; and Fenison touched on her experiences of connecting with others through virtual “field trips” in which she was able to meet others and exchange stories.
The true potential of the augmented and virtual reality ecosystem was highlighted when Shin referenced the concept of “brain hacking.” This concept is defined by using high-tech resources to reconfigure or “trick” someone’s brain into thinking or believing in an altered state. Shin referenced treatment of PTSD, meditation, hypnosis, and a research study completed by Duke University in which a paralyzed patient visualized themselves walking in virtual reality and was able to heal their paralysis through “brain hacking.”
Really cool stuff!
DHIT would like to thank Brian Moynihan and all the panelists for such an engaging and enlightening session. And thank you to all attendees for galvanizing around the now and future of health innovation. We couldn’t do this without you.
For those of you lucky enough to be in Costa Rica next week, you are invited to attend our next Digital Health Happy Hour in San Jose on September 7th at 5:30 PM. Register here!
To all local Triangle Digital Health enthusiasts, please join us again at our next DHIT Happy Hour on September 20th in Chapel Hill, NC at 5:30 PM. Register here!
For more information about DHIT’s mission, events, and partnership opportunities, subscribe to our email list!
Talk soon!
Change and accessibility in healthcare are of paramount importance to DHIT, and we are building an ecosystem platform to transform the way innovators collaborate in the health space. The North Carolina Health Innovation District (NCHID) promotes inclusive programming and resources aimed at the adoption of digital health innovation. The NCHID platform also supports the development and implementation of innovative health solutions that address the unique needs of North Carolina’s underserved communities. To become a member of the NCHID contact us at [email protected].