A landmark partnership between Vantari VR, a Seattle-based global leader in virtual reality medical simulation, and the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine significantly advances our leadership in innovating education and reinforces our commitment to shaping the future of clinical training.
Designated as Vantari VR’s first West Coast Anesthesiology Center of Excellence, the department will inform and evaluate the company’s new VR‑based clinical training modules as they are put into practice by faculty and trainees.
“This partnership is quite exciting given UW Medicine’s proximity,” said Co‑CEO Dr. Nishanth Krishnananthan, adding that the collaboration is focused on co‑developing content, conducting research, and launching first‑in‑client modules that have not been seen before.
Department Chair Dr. G. Burkhard Mackensen announced news of the collaboration to faculty last fall, noting that advanced virtual reality training could soon support lung isolation for thoracic surgery, difficult airway management, and other high‑acuity procedures.
“The possibilities in this virtual reality space are unlimited,” Mackensen said. “It’s fantastic to have a local company that can come to campus, work with us in a dedicated space and bring this new modality to life.”
According to Dr. Sara Nikravan, vice chair for education, the partnership aligns with the department’s long-established expertise in simulation‑based training. “Anesthesiology as a specialty has always been at the forefront of simulation, because we’re deeply focused on patient safety.” she said. Yet traditional simulations with mannequins can be limited, especially for procedural skills that require repetition and precise measurement.
“Now, multiple trainees can practice using a virtual reality module at the same time,” Nikravan explained, “giving them more opportunities for repetition, which we know makes a difference.”
She also emphasized the value of the partnership for faculty and practicing clinicians who perform certain high‑risk procedures only a few times per year: “Virtual reality-based simulation ensures that our skills stay sharp by providing continued exposure to high risk, low occurrence scenarios, much like simulator emergency scenario training for aviators.”
Establishing an Anesthesiology Center of Excellence at the University of Washington School of Medicine reinforces our ongoing investment in innovative medical education and collaborative research as we support the development of new training tools that will benefit clinicians regionally and globally.