The Yale Center for Immersive Technologies in Pediatrics led by Kimberly Hieftje, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics, and Asher Marks, MD, associate professor of pediatrics (hematology/oncology), is set to open at Yale School of Medicine. Building upon the successes of the XR Pediatrics (XRPeds) lab within the school's Department of Pediatrics, the new center will allow the Yale community at large to access extended reality (XR; virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, etc.) resources, support, expertise, and training.
The center will focus on the use of XR and game technology to develop and implement interventions and clinical applications that improve health outcomes for youth while embarking on new, interdisciplinary collaborations with experts in areas like public health, computer science, engineering, clinical care, medical education, ethics, law, and art. Their mission is to provide effective and safe XR applications for youth, with a particular focus on those at risk for experiencing health disparities associated with race/ethnicity, age, gender, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, and disability.
The center plans to host events within the New Haven community and beyond. In September, the center, in partnership with the International Virtual Reality Healthcare Association (IVRHA) will host the Inaugural Virtual Reality in Pediatrics Healthcare Symposium on September 19-20, 2023 at Yale School of Medicine. The symposium will bring together researchers, clinicians, youth advocates, and industry to discuss best practices to developing and implementing safe and effective immersive applications focused on youth as the end user. Co-director Hieftje said, “With the ever-evolving landscape of technology, youth now have access to unprecedented platforms using virtual, augmented, and mixed reality where they can innovate, learn, and socialize. While these technologies provide new approaches to healthcare, education, and treatment for youth, there is also an essential need for corresponding advancements in health and safety measures. It is our responsibility to protect our youth from potential pitfalls and hazards related to immersive technologies while still empowering them to fully harness the potential of these exciting digital playgrounds."
Co-director Marks said, “XR technologies have an adoption rate that meets and often exceeds those of other modern digital revolutions such as color TV, mobile phones, and the internet. Like any technology, XR is not inherently good or bad, but understanding how it affects and is best used with young populations is a pressing issue. We look forward to assessing the potential dangers and benefits of these technologies with the continued support of industry partners as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Department of Public Health (DPH) as well as our colleagues here at Yale in the Department of Pediatrics and beyond.”
The Yale Center for Immersive Technologies in Pediatrics is set to open at 55 Church Street in New Haven in late summer of this year.