Cancer > Bridging Physical Distance With Virtual Connection

Bridging Physical Distance With Virtual Connection

By Alison Caldwell, Ph.D. Photography by Pete Pallagi

At Mayo Clinic in Arizona, an innovative virtual reality application is changing how families experience radiation therapy. The effort addresses a long-standing challenge: the necessary separation between patients and their loved ones during treatment sessions.

"The inspiration for this program was an interaction I had with the mother of a pediatric patient. Her request was simple — ‘please take me where my child is,’” says Aman Anand, Ph.D., a radiation oncology medical physicist at Mayo Clinic. "Due to radiation safety protocols, I knew this would never be possible in the physical space. But I’m a tech geek, so I thought there has to be a solution in the virtual space."

That solution became an immersive livestreaming system that allows family members to virtually accompany their loved ones during treatment while maintaining all safety requirements. The technology creates a sophisticated virtual environment, where family members can observe treatment sessions through high-definition 360-degree cameras and specialized virtual reality (VR) headsets.

A Technological Bridge to Compassionate Care

The technological implementation is elegant yet relatively simple. The system uses commercially available virtual reality headsets combined with specialized software and high-definition cameras.

For safety and procedural reasons, patients undergoing radiation therapy don't wear VR equipment themselves. Instead, cameras in the treatment room transmit secure feeds to headsets worn by family members in a separate space. The system is carefully designed to maintain patient privacy and adhere to strict radiation safety protocols.

"We invested tremendous effort into making the interface intuitive and the experience seamless," explains Dr. Anand. "The environment we've created isn't just functional — it's designed to provide emotional comfort during what can be an anxious time for families."

Dr. Anand attributes the program's success to a remarkable team. Sujay Vora, M.D., chair of Radiation Oncology, was instrumental in scaling the vision. Brady Laughlin, M.D., introduced the first family into the program. Fan Yang, M.D., has championed a bold vision to support future clinical trial efforts. Yi Rong, Ph.D., played a crucial role in refining the clinic workflow and ensuring thoughtful and safe clinical integration. A widely published innovator, Dr. Rong instantly recognized the potential of this technology and has been instrumental in shaping the framework for its clinical trial design and future validation.

Other key members of the team included Justin Pettit, Harrison Stuckey, Elizabeth Hardin and Sasha Daza.

Looking to the Future

Supported by philanthropic contributions from the Gaylord family, the program began as a pilot in one treatment room, but it is rapidly expanding. Currently, the team offers the experience to one family member once weekly, but the overwhelmingly positive response has accelerated development plans.

Dr. Anand and his team are now exploring applications beyond radiation oncology, including potential uses in rehabilitation medicine, intensive care units and palliative care. One particularly promising extension involves hospice care, where the technology could help terminally ill patients virtually visit their homes or significant places when physical travel isn't possible.

"We're also exploring ways this technology might help reduce the need for anesthesia in pediatric patients," Dr. Anand says. "If immersive experiences can help keep children still during treatment, we might avoid the need for regular sedation during treatments that don’t cause significant discomfort.”

The environment we've created isn't just functional — it's designed to provide emotional comfort during what can be an anxious time for families.
— Aman Anand, Ph.D.

The technology has evolved from a practical solution into what Dr. Anand describes as "a platform for compassion in healthcare." The program's success has garnered attention from both pediatric and adult physicians, with interest extending beyond Mayo Clinic to other healthcare institutions.

Dr. Anand says the project’s progress also reflects the dedication of countless others — including the entire Radiation Oncology practice, the therapy team, management leaders, and collaborators from Information Technology, Endpoint Services, Public Affairs, Brand, and the Institutional Review Board.

"At its core, this effort reminds us that technology is most powerful when it strengthens human connections," Dr. Anand says. "In healthcare especially, innovation should always serve the human experience."