A new virtual reality lab at the University of Dayton will help students preparing for health professions study the human body in 3D and learn skills they'll use in the field.
The Dave and Norma McCarthy Virtual Reality Laboratory in memory of Anne Crecelius will be dedicated Friday, Oct. 24, in Raymond L. Fitz Hall. The lab features seven virtual reality stations and advanced 3D anatomy tools that allow students to explore complex biological systems and practice interpreting CT and MRI scans.
"This technology gives students more time with the material and more ways to learn it," said Kimberly Ritterhoff, lecturer in UD's Department of Health and Sport Science. "They can come in outside of class, work at their own pace and build the technical understanding they'll need in clinical settings."
Junior health science major Maria Koss, who works as a teaching assistant in the lab, said the interactive tools help students test their knowledge and prepare for real-world applications.
"If you can explain the content to someone else, you know it for sure," Koss said. "That kind of practice helps us be confident in serving future patients."
Dave McCarthy '71 and Norma Whitacre McCarthy '71 supported the purchase of the equipment during the last five years. The addition of the virtual reality stations in this month marks the first time all of the technology has been in one location, creating a cohesive and integrated space. The lab will be dedicated to the memory of Anne Crecelius '07, UD professor of health and sport science, who died in 2023.
Corinne Daprano, School of Education and Health Sciences interim dean, said the lab is already in use for the human anatomy course and expects the other health professions and SEHS programs to incorporate it in the future.
"This is about preparing students for the next step," Daprano said. "Whether they go into medicine, physical therapy, athletic training or another field, they'll have experience using advanced tools that mirror the technology shaping those fields today."