Virtual Medicine | Cedars-Sinai

Note: All posted times are in PDT.

Day 1March 27, 2025

8:00 – 9:00 AMRegistration / Breakfast

Main Stage

Unlocking Healthcare’s Next Wave: MXR’s Real-World Applications

Moderator: Brennan, Spiegel, MD, MSHS, Cedars-Sinai
9:00 – 9:45 AM Virtual Reality is Genuine Reality: Implications for the Future of MedicineBrennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, Cedars-Sinai
9:45 – 10:25 AM Healthcare 2040: The MXR-Powered Revolution That Healed the Planet and Its PeopleManeesh Juneja, Planetary Health Futurist, MJ Analytics Ltd

10:25 – 11:00 AMMorning break and exhibitor demos

Main Stage

XR Theater

Empathy in Action: Using XR to Dismantle Bias and Foster Understanding

Moderator: Lindsey Ross, MD, MHDS, Cedars-Sinai
11:00 – 11:20 AM

Reimagining Justice: VR and Cognitive Rehabilitation for Offender Reform Kaylarge Eloi, PhD, Ed.D, Harris-Stowe State University
11:20 – 11:40 AM

Evaluating for Sociodemographic Bias in Conversational XR/AI for Mental Health SupportYee Hui Yeo, MD, Cedars-Sinai
11:40 – 12:00 PM

Building Bridges: Virtual Reality Training for Cultural Competency, Empathy, and HumilityCharee Thompson, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
12:00 – 12:30 PM

Speaker Panel: Discussions on Empathy
Lindsey Ross, MD, MHDS, Cedars-Sinai
Kaylarge Eloi, PhD, Ed.D, Harris-Stowe State University
Yee Hui Yeo, MD, Cedars-Sinai
Charee Thompson, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

XR Theater

Beyond Boundaries: Multidisciplinary XR Innovations in Medicine

Moderator: Min Lang, MD, MSc, Massachusetts General Hospital
11:00 – 11:15 AM

Making Menopause Management a Virtual RealityStephanie S. Faubion, MD, MBA, FACP, MSCP, IF, Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health Karisma Suchak, MD, MHDS, Cedars-Sinai
11:15 – 11:30 AM

Gut Instinct: How VR Can Ease Gastrointestinal SymptomsChristopher Almario, MD, MSHPM, Cedars-Sinai
11:30 – 11:45 AM

Virtual Reality Test Metrics Align with a Computational Model of Brain Decision-Making Processes Gary Wilkerson, EdD, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
11:45 – 12:00 PM

Sustained reductions in CRPS symptoms using home based VR multi-treatment Hunter Hoffman, PhD, Director of the Virtual Reality Research Center at the Human Photonics Lab at the UW
12:00 – 12:15 PM

Virtual Reality Treatments for the Dizzy Brain Edward Cho, MD, Cedars-Sinai
12:15 – 12:30 PM

Exploring Embodied Virtual Reality for Chronic Pain Management Nancy Baker, ScD, MPH, OTR, FAOTA, Tufts University

12:30 – 1:45 PM

Lunch (first floor patio)
Abstract poster session (adjacent to lunch on first floor)
Exhibitor demos (exhibitor hall)
12:45 – 1:15 PM

(In XR Theater) Special lunchtime symposium sponsored by:

Healium

Mayo Clinic

Moderated By: Muskaan Mehra, MS, Cedars Sinai
Using VR before cardiac surgery, a RCT on goggles vs. tablet Sarah Hill, CEO, Healium Jordan Miller, PhD, Mayo Clinic & Department of Cardiovascular Surgery

Main Stage

XR Theater

Healing Beyond Boundaries: Exploring XR's Transformative Role in Mental Healthcare

Moderator: Omer Liran, MD, MHDS, Cedars-Sinai
1:45 – 2:10 PM

Mental Health and Immersive Tech Jessica Stone, PhD, Virtual Sandtray, LLC
2:10 – 2:35 PM

Evaluating the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Tolerability of an Autonomous 8-Week CBT-VR Protocol in the Texas Wildland Firefighter PopulationMargot Paul, PhD, Stanford University
2:35 – 3:00 PM

How Feasible and Acceptable is a Conversational AI Weight Coach? Robert Chernoff, PhD, JD Cedars-Sinai
3:00 – 3:25 PM

Beyond Computational Behaviorism: Unraveling the Structure of Thought in Immersive Virtual Reality Travis Baker, PhD, Rutgers University

XR Theater

MXR Around the World

Moderator: Samuel Max, BM BCh (Oxon), Leiden University Medical Center
1:45 – 1:55 PM

Introduction To The Session, Hosted By The Cedars-Sinai International Team Benjamin Seo, MBA, Cedars-Sinai
1:55 – 2:10 PM

Special Presentation SessionSpeaker to be revealed at session
2:10 – 2:25 PM

Virtual Reality in the Daily Reality of Cardiothoracic Surgery Edris Mahtab, MD, PhD, FESC, Leiden University Medical Center
2:25 – 2:40 PM

Brain-Based Expedited Training in XR Miriam Reiner, PhD, Israel Institute of Technology
2:40 – 2:55 PM

Embodied VR and Psychedelics: A Potentially Synergistic Approach to Pain and Beyond Jasmine Ho, MA, PhD, University of Zurich
2:55 – 3:10 PM

Designing Remote Virtual Reality Interventions for Older Adults Harmehr Sekhon, MSc, PhD, McGill University/St. Mary’s Research Center for Addictions and Mental Health
3:10 – 3:25 PM

Virtual Reality Skills Training for Cardiothoracic Surgery: Experience From Training a Thousand Trainees Samuel Max, BM BCh (Oxon), Leiden University Medical Center

3:25 – 3:45 PMExhibitor demos

Main Stage

XR Theater

Setting the Standard: A Comprehensive Review of the AMXRA Guidelines

Moderator: Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, Cedars-Sinai
3:45 – 4:00 PM

What is MXR? A Taxonomy Defining the Breadth and Depth of an Evolving FieldBrennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, Cedars-Sinai
4:00 – 4:15 PM

Safety in XRJulia A. Scott, PhD, Brain and Memory Care Lab at Santa Clara University
4:15 – 4:30 PM

Clinical applications of XR in the perioperative setting: The lesser-known hero Renee El-Gabalawy, PhD, University of Manitoba
4:30 – 4:45 PM

Guidelines for the Safe, Ethical, and Effective Design and Implementation of Virtual Human Agent Systems in Mental Healthcare Applications Rohan Jotwani, MD, MBA, Weill Cornell Medicine
4:45 – 5:00 PM

Best Practices for Patient-Centered Engagement in Medical Extended RealityTom Norris, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Retired), Patient Advocate, American Chronic Pain Association Ella Tetrault, BS, Cedars-Sinai Muskaan Mehra, MS, Cedars Sinai Karisma Suchak, MD, MHDS, Cedars-Sinai

XR Theater

AMXRA Plenary Session

Moderator: Mark Zhang, DO, MMSc, FAMIA, Brigham and Women's Hospital
3:45 – 4:00 PM

Development and Validation of Conversational Agents for Difficult Conversations in Medicine John Rubin, MD, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine
4:00 – 4:15 PM

The Visual Pathology Report: A Novel Approach to Multidisciplinary Communication Michael Topf, MD, MSCI, Vanderbilt University
4:15 – 4:30 PM

Simulated Psychedelic Immersive Experience: Healthcare Intervention for Depression (Si-PHI) Asher Marks, MD, Yale Center for Immersive Technologies in Pediatrics
4:30 – 4:45 PM

VR integrated community-based physiotherapy for patients with chronic low back painSyl Slatman, MSc, HAN University of Applied Science
4:45 – 5:00 PM

Augmented Intelligence in Medicine: Enhancing Clinical Decision Support with AR and AI Rayan Harari, PhD, MBA, Harvard Medical School

5:00 – 5:45 PMMeet the faculty, networking, exhibitor demos

7:00 – 9:00 PM Cocktail Hour and VIP Networking Dinner

Day 2March 28, 2025

8:00 – 8:50 AMRegistration / Continental breakfast

Main Stage

XR Theater

Abstract Plenary Session: Top Research Winners Take the Stage

Moderator: Rohan Jotwani, MD, Weill Cornell Medical Center
8:50 – 8:55 AM

Welcome Back and Day #2 OverviewBrennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, Cedars-Sinai
8:55 – 9:05 AM

From Insights to Impact: Driving Change Across Medical Device Lifecycle Through MDICJithesh Veetil, PhD, Medical Device Innovation Consortium
9:05 – 9:20 AM

AI-Driven XR Platform for Enhanced Precision in Interventional Medicine: A Focus on Cardiac Interventions Mohsen Annabestani, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine
9:20 – 9:35 AM

Factors Driving Differences in VR Food Behavior and Experience During a Novel Pharmacology TrialMatthew Leitao, MPP, PhD, National Institute of Health – National Human Genome Research Institute
9:40 – 9:55 AM

A Randomized Controlled Trial Confirming Feasibility and Increased Diaphragmatic Breathing Therapy Adherence with Remote Virtual Reality-Based Technology In Children With Functional Constipation: Experience At Two Institutions.Alice Huang, MD, MBA, Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s - GI/Motility and Pediatric Gastroenterology

Keynote Speaker

9:55 – 10:25 AM

From Virtual Surgery to Reality: The Integration of XR in the ORRafael Grossmann, MD, MHDS, FACS, General, Trauma and Acute Care, Portsmouth Regional Hospital

XR Theater

More Than Games: Use of MXR in Pediatric Populations

Moderator: Henry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, MBA, The Ohio State University
9:05 – 9:25 AM

User feedback for adaptive exergaming mobile app with augmented reality to promote physical activity in children with Cerebral PalsyMelissa Bent, MD, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
9:25 – 9:45 AM

Leveraging Donor Resources and Partner Relationships to Encourage the Use of Immersive Technology to Support Pediatric Patients Around the World Andre Bollaert, BA, Invincikids
9:45 – 10:05 AM

Virtual Reality Pain Alleviation TherapeuticsHenry Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD, MBA, The Ohio State University
10:05 – 10:25 AM

Reimagining Pediatric Care: AI, Human-Centered Design, and XR for Patient- Centric Engagement and Surgical Innovation Patrick B Thomas, MD, MMCi, FACS, Children's Nebraska & UNMC College of Medicine

10:25 – 11:00 AMMorning break and exhibitor demos

Main Stage

XR Theater

Stories That Move Us: The Intersection of Narrative and Technology Across the Lifespan

Moderator: Arash Naeim, MD, PhD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
11:00 – 11:15 AM

Year of the Cicadas: A VR Experience Through Grief and Meaning MakingKimberly Hieftje, PhD, Yale Center for Immersive Technologies in Pediatrics
11:15 – 11:30 AM

VR Game-Based Infection Prevention Education in the NICU Veronica Weser, PhD, Yale School of Medicine

Keynote Speaker

11:30 – 12:00 PM

VR and the Existential Crisis of Serious IllnessTeri Yarbrow, MS, MFA, MagikaVRx Kathleen DeLoach Benton, DrPH, MA, Hospice Savannah & Steward Center for Palliative Care

XR Theater

MXR Product Forum: New Advances in Hardware and Software Applications
(non-CME)

Moderator: Walter Greenleaf, PhD, Stanford University
11:00 – 11:15 AM

1 Day for 1 New Training Course?!?!- Rapid App Development in XR Akmal Idris, Engineering Lead
Sponsored by Health Scholars
11:15 – 11:30 AM

Who Benefits Most? Identifying RelieVRx Success Factors in Chronic Low Back PainTodd Maddox, PhD
Sponsored by AppliedVR
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM

True Hormone Stories that are leveraging XRCharles Kirby, Founder & Chief Product Officer
Sponsored by SindyXR
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Biosensing and Immersive Technologies - Transforming the Subjective to the ObjectiveWalter Greenleaf, PhD, Stanford University