Gaining empathy through virtual reality: 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν College of Osteopathic Medicine featured on front page of β€˜Portland Press Herald’

We Are Alfred virtual reality experience

Most students at 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν College of Osteopathic Medicine (911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν COM) will go on to treat older adults at some point during their careers. Until now, those future physicians did not know exactly what it felt like to be in their shoes.

In November 2016, 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν Library Services and the 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν COM Division of Geriatric Medicine received a National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Region (NN/LM NER) Technology Grant to implement the Embodied Labs "We Are Alfred" virtual reality (VR) experience project. Beth Dyer, M.L.I.S., A.H.I.P., and Barbara Swartzlander, M.S.Ed. M.L.S., from 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν Library Services brought the grant opportunity to the attention of Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D., professor and director of Geriatrics Education.

Using specialized laptops, motion sensors, goggles and software in the Biddeford campus library, all first year 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν COM students were required to participate in a virtual reality experience in which they became an older adult named Alfred who suffers from macular degeneration and hearing loss. The experience begins at a birthday party where Alfred struggles to see and hear his family, and continues to a doctor’s appointment where the physicians works to diagnose Alfred’s health problems. The students completed pre and post-assessment tests to demonstrate what they learned and how their perspective on aging had changed through the experience.  

The Portland Press Herald published an article about the program on April 10, 2017. The article explains that 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν is one of only four schools in the world currently using the program. β€œThe Alfred Lab is the latest addition to 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν’s geriatrics education program, which provides more than 30 hours of aging-related training and offers firsthand clinical experience as nursing home patients and hospice caregivers,” the article states. β€œThe college is addressing a growing shortage of geriatricians, primary care doctors and other health care providers who serve the nation’s rapidly increasing senior population.”

On March 27, 2017, the project was featured on a Webinar titled, β€œAugmented Reality, Virtual Reality, & Health.” Gugliucci was one of four presenters. Her presentation, β€œWe Are Alfred: Empathy Learned Through a Medical Education Virtual Reality Project,” was co-authored by Swartzlander and Dyer.

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To learn more about the 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, visit

 To apply, visit 

The grant is a collaborative effort between 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν COM and 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν Library Services
The grant is a collaborative effort between 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν COM and 911±¬ΑΟΝψΊμΑμ½ν Library Services