While many summer camps and programs were shuttered by COVID-19, the FocuSStem NextGen summer intensive at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute invited high school students from Metro Detroit into the operating room, intensive care unit (ICU) and research labs. Students examined slides under the microscope, made incisions during surgery and even put out a fire. How? This year’s FocuSStem NextGen summer intensive cohort attended the program using virtual reality (VR). Each day participants pulled on their Oculus headsets, took hold of their controllers and virtually entered the program.
Enabled by a partnership with Karmanos, the mission of FocuSStem NextGen is to provide a path for students who are underrepresented in the medical sciences to have exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-careers in Southeastern Michigan. The program was founded in 2018 by Katie Heath, a long-term Karmanos volunteer. She was encouraged to create the program by Laura Zubeck, RN, MBA, director of Patient Community Education and Volunteer Services, to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields.
During the summer intensive, students meet with some of the nation’s leading cancer physicians and researchers in oncology, pathology and epidemiology as well as expert clinical staff to learn about career pathways in the STEM fields. Working together with their peers, participants explore real-world health scenarios and learn practical leadership skills.
In 2020, technology played a whole new role in the program, becoming both the subject and medium through which the experience was offered. Students spent their afternoons working together in a virtual space, completing various challenges such as turning on a ventilator or cleaning up a chemical spill. Many of these tasks would have been impossible or hazardous to access in person, giving this year’s participants a completely unique and robust experience.
“We planned to offer this program in person, as we have in the past, but in March everything changed. We couldn’t even have medical students in the hospital, how could we host high school students? We had to pivot. We knew immersion could happen in a different form. We asked the student-led executive committee, how can we modify? How can we innovate?” explained Elisabeth Heath, M.D., FACP, associate center director of Translational Sciences and leader of the Genitourinary Oncology Multidisciplinary Team at Karmanos Cancer Institute, and professor at Wayne State School of Medicine. Dr. Heath also serves as a member of the FocuSStem NextGen Steering Committee.
Katie and her student-led board knew that innovation would come in the form of technology and turned to the team at CrossComm, a Durham, North Carolina-based app design and development studio. Developers at CrossComm worked closely with FocuSStem NextGen student leaders to design an immersive experience in just six weeks. They created three modules: an ICU, operating room and research lab. In addition, a “hang out space” was designed where participants could meet and have a safe space to share ideas and encourage one another.
“VR provides cutting edge new ways for us to communicate. It’s remarkable that we were able to create this level of sophistication with so many users in just six weeks. To do it in service of a positive cause, like the promotion of STEM fields, is really thrilling,” said Don Shin, founder and president of CrossComm.
How did the CrossComm team manage to work so quickly? They collaborated using virtual reality themselves. Doing so allowed for immediate feedback on the VR presentation and interactions from team members and ultimately led to the creation of a stimulating immersive experience. In the final program, students were able to see multiple users, move through rooms and hear the voices of their peers directionally using their headsets. The creation of the software was possible thanks to a donation from CrossComm, who provided 50 percent of the development at no cost. Oculus Quest Headsets were funded by a donation from Zekelman Industries.
Although the experience may have been different than what they expected, student participants reported positive experiences.
“Through FocuSStem, I learned about the importance of careers that I had never heard about, such as social work and genetic counseling. My favorite part of the program was the immersive VR experience that allowed us to get a glimpse of a typical day in the ICU, OR and clinical research lab,” said Precious Amuwha, a 15-year-old participant. Amuwha also reported that she was interested in pursuing volunteer opportunities in the medical field as a result of the program.
For the students participating in the summer 2020 FocuSStem NextGen summer intensive, the immersion doesn’t end just because the program has come to a close. They’ll be able to keep their headsets and meet virtually on a monthly basis with their program peers throughout the year.
Reflecting on the program, Shin said, “With a significant amount of institutions closing physical classrooms, there is no time like the present to explore new ways to collaborate and communicate. Virtual Reality is here to stay.”
Michele Cote, Ph.D., associate center director for Cancer Research Training and Education agrees with Shin. “We must continue to encourage today’s youth to be excited about STEM careers. FocuSStem NextGen is an incredible opportunity to engage future STEM leaders.”
CLICK HERE to view a brief video showcasing the VR experience had by students in the FocuSStem NextGen program.
To learn more about FocuSStem NextGen, visit focusstemnextgen.com. To learn more about CrossComm and VR, visit crosscomm.com.