A New Reality for Medical Students

The facts

Innovating how medical education is delivered is top of mind at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Over five years, the program prepares the next generation of physician‑investigators who care for patients and pursue new discoveries through research. One dedicated educator is redefining the learning experience, taking students beyond the traditional classroom and into a virtual world that allows them to build vital skills ahead of their time in the lab.

William Albabish, PhD, MS, Assistant Professor of Surgery, is driven by a passion for education and emerging technology. He knew he wanted to blend the two, so he applied for and received a Catalyst Grant. That pivotal support has allowed him to transform the curriculum by bringing virtual reality (VR) into the mix, helping students build confidence before the hands-on work begins.

The idea

Dr. Albabish brings a unique perspective as he also serves as Director of the Anatomy and Body Donation Program at Cleveland Clinic. He is creating 3D scans of cadavers that students can explore using VR headsets. Students can fully interact with each virtual model — rotating it, resizing it, moving it around and examining it from the inside out, almost like flipping through the pages of a book.

One example is a virtual room he calls the Neuroverse, where students can look at the cranial nerves and the skull. Using this technology, they can scale the skull up to the size of a living room and examine each opening closely to see exactly how the nerves travel through them and where they go.

The impact

Even with access to exceptional cadaver labs, it can be challenging for students to fully grasp the clinical implications of what they’re seeing. To bridge that gap, Dr. Albabish is building a novel library of VR experiences that is reshaping how students learn.

These immersive tools don’t replace hands‑on training — they elevate it, giving future clinicians a chance to practice and refine their skills long before they reach the bedside. The result is simple but powerful: more confident learners and, ultimately, better care for the patients they will serve.