A UK-developed programme that uses gaming headsets to train surgeons in complex reconstructive procedures is set for global success, while also being considered as a tool to help frontline medics in Gaza and Ukraine.
Virtual Reality in Medicine and Surgery (VRiMS) programme founder, Professor Jagtar Dhanda, conceived the project during Covid as a means of delivering training to surgeons remotely. The concept has since grown and developed into a model that is changing the surgical landscape and, for the first time, its impact has been formally evaluated and will be presented by medical student Ameen Mahmood from Imperial College this December, at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic surgeons (BAPRAS - www.bapras.org.uk).
Mahmood’s study shows the staggering impact of the training model, which rates the VR training as more effective than traditional methods of teaching and learning, such as lectures and observing operations in theatres. The research also highlights that trainee confidence in performing a major reconstructive procedure doubled after a single one-hour session. These revelations prove that the technology has, and will continue to have, a real impact on the way training can be delivered, allowing surgeons who were previously unable to access training due to resource limitations or remote settings to access the same high-quality education and procedural exposure as their counterparts.
In a UK-first milestone, the VRiMS’ Women in Surgery group, part of the wider VRiMS programme, recently ran the first fully synchronised remote session of a plastic reconstructive procedure, connecting surgeons remotely in a variety of locations using VR headsets. With technology advocated as a way of levelling gender disparity and inequality in surgical environments, this could also be another tool in building a supportive and inclusive working environment for women surgeons, as well as a means of delivering training to low-resource areas.
The sessions combine new technology, including 360-degree cameras, digital overlays, and headsets, with traditional training methods, such as operating on cadavers, to create an immersive environment for students. It has already been used to train frontline medical teams in low-resource environments, including a demonstration course in Brazil. The same approach is now being explored for delivery in conflict zones such as Ukraine and Gaza, where the only current barriers are the physical logistics of supplying and maintaining VR equipment.
Ameen Mahmood, author of Global Implementation and Impact of a Virtual Reality-Based Plastic Surgery Education Program, says: “The research speaks for itself - the stats are remarkable. Not only does VR training translate into real-world improvements in learning with an increase in confidence scores, the majority of participants are rating it as more effective than traditional teaching, proving that immersive technology is not a novelty; it has the potential to improve and standardise healthcare on a global scale.”
Professor Jagtar Dhanda says: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the VRiMS programme grow from an early proof of concept during the pandemic into a validated educational tool with measurable impact. The data speak volumes — significant improvements in both procedural and anatomical confidence, across hundreds of trainees, backed by robust statistical analysis. It’s not just gratifying to see the numbers; it’s proof that this technology is delivering exactly what we hoped it would — accessible, effective, and equitable surgical training.”
The programme has recorded over 250 procedures and established 11 international hubs, creating a framework for standardised, repeatable surgical training accessible to surgeons irrespective of gender, location, or resources.
Trainee Arooba Ali, a Year 2 medical student at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, says:
“Before trying VR, my experience of surgery was mostly lectures and videos — interesting, but very limited. The first time I put on the headset, I felt like I was standing in theatre, seeing every detail from the surgeon’s point of view. It made complex operations suddenly make sense. What’s exciting is that this kind of training removes barriers — everyone gets the same view, the same chance to learn, wherever they are.”
Consultant plastic surgeon and BAPRAS president Paul McArthur, says: “It is encouraging to learn that this programme is already changing how surgical training is delivered, and with such strong evidence to demonstrate its success. The results are proof that innovation in surgical education can deliver tangible benefits for aspiring surgeons, ultimately improving patient outcomes.”
