Using Virtual Reality & 3D Technologies to Expand the Health Professions Pipeline in Southern Nevada

The Jay Sexter Library, together with the Office of Academic Services and Institutional Support OASIS, within the Department of Student Affairs DOSA at Touro University Nevada TUN, strives to educate the next generation of medical and health sciences professionals to serve the people of the state of Nevada. We seek to engage students from underrepresented populations and in areas of highest need. Our pilot project will target first-generation, and economically disadvantaged middle school, high school, and undergraduate students in Henderson, Boulder City, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and surrounding areas, beginning in the spring 2019 and continuing throughout the award year. To this end, we will collaborate with the TUN Office of Admissions and present at TUN-sponsored academies, fairs, open houses, workshops, and other events geared towards prospective students and applicants. Our goal is to spark prospective students interest in medical and health sciences careers through the use of virtual reality VR and 3D technologies, with a focus on anatomy, basic sciences, and clinical sciences software programs. In addition, National Library of Medicine NLM databases, such as MedlinePlus and PubMed, will be highlighted in order to increase awareness of health information resources for health professionals, and to better integrate the role of libraries in health professions education and training. NLM database presentations and medical software demonstrations will be led by health sciences librarians, learning specialists within OASIS, anatomy and clinical simulation faculty and staff, and high school liaisons. Additional support will be available as needed from our information systems staff. Specific Goals * Goal #1: To improve access to high-quality health professions information for prospective medical and health sciences students. Objective: Participate in TUN Admissions academies, fairs, open houses, and other events, and offer sessions on locating high quality health information for health professions students, along with demonstrations on the use of VR and 3D technologies in healthcare education and practice. * Goal #2: To increase awareness about the resources and services of the National Library of Medicine. Objective: Develop a TUN Health Professions Information Libguide that will provide convenient access to high quality health information developed by the National Library of Medicine NLM, and provide information for prospective and matriculating health sciences students on NLM resources, such as PubMed and MedlinePlus. * Goal #3: To promote, and improve, access to, medical and health information in support of education, research, and patient care. Objective: Select and obtain VR headsets, medical and health sciences software, and 3D printing and scanning machines, in order to demonstrate their application in medical and health sciences education, research, and patient care.