Our Future Doctors Learn Empathy via VR Technology!

Dr. Nomy Dickman and Dr. Yuri Perlitz from our Faculty developed an innovative educational method for developing empathy in future doctors - using virtual reality (VR) technology.

At a workshop, our students are exposed to different situations in which a doctor delivers bitter news - sometimes in an empathetic way, and sometimes in a non-empathetic way. They observe these situations from both the doctor's and the patient's points of view, allowing them to deeply understand how the manner in which the message is delivered affects the patient's experience and the success of treatment.

This pedagogical method is a breakthrough in the training of future doctors, and gives them important tools for developing the skill of empathy - essential for the doctor/patient relationship.

Dr. Nomy Dickman is dean's advisor for innovative teaching and head of the unit for evaluation and teaching promotion at the Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Yuri Perlitz is the director of the OBGYN department at the Tzafon Medical Center, and the head of the department of OBGYN studies at the Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Doron Cohn-Schwartz, graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, is currently at the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.