Dear Jacek,
Thank you for asking me to contribute to your excellent Spektrumlab.io newsletter. Let me capture my recent professional experience and share it with you and your readers.
I recently had the privilege of attending the vMED Conference (March 2024), an exhilarating gathering of minds passionate about the transformative potential of Mixed Extended Reality (MXR) in medicine.
This year’s event was a true testament to the astonishing advancements and limitless possibilities that lie ahead in this rapidly evolving field. Allow me to share with you the top 6 key takeaways that left an indelible mark on me:
Legitimising MXR:
- One of the conference’s most striking revelations was the indisputable legitimacy of Medical Extended Reality as a bona fide branch of medicine.
- No longer a mere novelty or a futuristic dream, MXR has firmly established itself as a powerful tool capable of offering groundbreaking solutions to long-standing challenges in healthcare.
- The conference showcased many pioneering projects and initiatives demonstrating the tangible impact MXR is already making in various medical domains.
Universal Value of MXR:
- What truly amazed me was the realisation that MXR’s value transcends any specialty or niche within medicine.
- The conference highlighted how MXR is being embraced and applied across the entire spectrum of healthcare, from surgery to psychiatry, medical education to patient rehabilitation.
- This universal recognition of MXR’s potential is fostering an unprecedented level of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, breaking down traditional silos and paving the way for holistic, patient-centric solutions.
Accelerating Advances with AI:
- The synergistic convergence of artificial intelligence and spatial computing emerged as a central theme throughout the conference.
- The combination of these two powerful technologies is expected to propel MXR’s growth to new heights, unlocking previously unimaginable possibilities for enhancing patient care and improving outcomes.
- From intelligent virtual assistants guiding surgical procedures to AI-driven personalized treatment plans, the future of MXR is inextricably linked to the advancements in AI and spatial computing.
Expanding Research Horizons:
- As MXR’s reach continues to expand, the conference underscored the critical importance of deepening our research efforts in areas such as ethics, accessibility, and equity.
- We must ensure the benefits of these technological advancements are accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location.
- Moreover, the conference called for a renewed focus on advancing research methodologies and rigour, ensuring that the evidence base keeps pace with the rapid technological innovations in MXR.
Tailoring MXR for All:
- One of the key insights I gained from the conference is that MXR is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
- While its potential is vast, it is crucial to recognise that individual patients may respond differently to MXR interventions.
- The conference highlighted ongoing efforts to identify response predictors, enabling healthcare providers to tailor MXR experiences to each patient’s unique needs and preferences.
- This personalised approach will be instrumental in maximising the effectiveness and acceptability of MXR in clinical practice.
Global Impact of MXR:
- Perhaps the most inspiring takeaway from the conference was the realisation of MXR’s genuinely global impact.
- From bustling metropolises to remote communities, MXR applications in healthcare transcend geographical boundaries and cultural barriers.
- The conference showcased stunning examples of how MXR is being leveraged to bridge gaps in access to healthcare, train medical professionals in resource-limited settings, and deliver cutting-edge treatments to patients in underserved regions.
- The potential of MXR to revolutionise healthcare on a global scale is truly awe-inspiring.
Attending the vMED Conference was an incredibly enriching and thought-provoking experience. It reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of MXR and energised me to contribute to this exciting field.
Together, let us integrate the potential of MXR and usher in a new era of healthcare that is more accessible, effective, and patient-centric than ever before.
Warmest regards,
Dr Jaroslaw Hryniewicki
You can contact the Author:
Dr Jaroslaw Hryniewicki
Founder/Director
MBBS FRANZCP,
Specialist Psychiatrist Adv. Certif.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Voix Clinic + Studio
Spaces 136 Stirling Highway
Nedlands Western Australia 6009
T 08 6424 8690 hello@voix.com.au