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Over 50% of Canadian Orthopedic Residency Programs Adopt PrecisionOS Virtual Reality Platform

Article Summary

mai 23, 2024

PrecisionOS, is now working to integrate their training curriculum into more than 50% of Canada’s orthopedic residency programs.

In This Article:

PrecisionOS Canada

Over 50% of Canadian Orthopedic Residency Programs Adopt PrecisionOSTM Virtual Reality Platform

PrecisionOS, the global leader of evidence-based immersive virtual reality surgical education, is now working to integrate their training curriculum into more than 50% of Canada’s orthopedic residency programs. Developed in Vancouver in collaboration with surgeons, the medical grade training programs enables residents to solve real problems, repeat procedures, and improve techniques in a risk-free environment before operating on a patient.

“This milestone is a turning point in Canadian orthopedic education,” remarked Dr. Davide Bardana, MD, Program Director at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. “By continually working to integrate PrecisionOS into our resident training, we provide learners with a dynamic platform simulating real-world clinical scenarios. This hands-on approach fosters proficiency and confidence, ultimately enhancing patient care.”

Dans clinical studies, residents who have trained on the PrecisionOS platform make 50%[1] fewer errors. PrecisionOS has also been shown to promote up to 570%[2] faster learning times for trainees. Residents use realistic VR simulations to hone their 3D spatial skills, refine surgical techniques, and develop critical decision-making abilities in a realistic, risk-free environment.

“Immersive virtual reality technology has emerged as a potent tool for enriching medical training, offering interactive experiences that complement traditional teaching methods,” says Danny Goel, MD, CEO of PrecisionOS “From Vancouver to St. John’s, Newfoundland, the decision to adopt VR technology reflects a collaborative effort among établissements médicaux to embrace impactful and innovative educational tools. We’re excited about this monumental leap in shaping the future of orthopedic surgeons’ training and the collective commitment to innovation and excellence in orthopedic education nationwide.”

PrecisionOS VR simulations offer residents experiential learning and provide immediate feedback and guidance as they navigate the largest library of complex orthopedic procedures. This practice can be carried out anytime and anyplace through the convenience of an affordable Meta Quest virtual reality headset.   “We’re excited to continually integrate PrecisionOS into our orthopedic residency curriculum,” stated Dr. Fay Leung, MD, Program Director at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, BC.

“PrecisionOS presents residents with a validated, cost-effective and comprehensive training solution across a spectrum of orthopedic scenarios, revolutionizing orthopedic education.”

In a statement addressing the integration of PrecisionOS into the University of Manitoba orthopedic residency program, Dr. Peter Macdonald, Chief Research and Innovation Officer, Medical Director at Pan am Clinic and Past President of the COA and ASES,  emphasized the importance of adapting education to meet the needs of the current generation of learners. “We recognize the necessity to evolve our educational approaches to match the learning styles of this new generation of residents. By embracing innovative technologies like PrecisionOS, we can tailor our training methods to accommodate their preferences and ultimately enhance their educational experience.”

Dr Goel sees the collaboration with Canadian orthopedic programs as emblematic of the evolving educational landscape, “This level of adoption reflects a shift towards dynamic, technology-enhanced learning. By embracing VR, we’re not just improving orthopedic education; we’re part of a broader movement towards personalized, experiential learning that meets the needs of today’s learners. It’s a testament to innovation driving better outcomes for both students and patients.”

For further information on PrecisionOS in orthopedic education, please contact the company at Jake Giannoni at jake.giannoni@precisionostech.com

About PrecisionOS:

PrecisionOS leads the global market in evidence-based immersive medical education for the healthcare sector. They are the trusted provider for healthcare professionals, residency programs, professional societies, and medical device companies around the world. Independently published trials validate participants increase both their confidence and surgical proficiency after using the PrecisionOS platform. With collaborative affiliations spanning nearly 100 major global residency and fellowship programs across 60 countries, PrecisionOS is transforming medical education worldwide. Learn more at www.precisionostech.com.


[1] Lohre R, Bois AJ, Pollock JW, et al. Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality on Orthopedic Surgical Skills and Knowledge Acquisition Among Senior Surgical Residents: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(12):e2031217. doi:10.1001/jamanetw

[2] Lohre R, Bois AJ, Athwal GS, Goel DP; Canadian Shoulder and Elbow Society (CSES). Improved Complex Skill Acquisition by Immersive Virtual Reality Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2020 Mar 18;102(6):e26. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.19.0

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À propos de PrecisionOS

PrecisionOS is a leader in virtual reality-enabled surgical education. Trusted by top academic medical centers, health systems, and professional societies worldwide, the company delivers an immersive, scalable training ecosystem designed by surgeons for residents and the next generation of healthcare professionals. By combining high-fidelity VR cadaver labs with on-the-go access via the Approaches mobile module and AI-driven performance reporting, PrecisionOS ensures surgeons are ready for the OR, today.

Questions fréquemment posées

Is there a step-by-step "Quick Start" guide for residents?

Yes—The Onboarding Course is your fastest path to proficiency. It walks you through account syncing, procedure selection, and your first virtual rehearsal step-by-step, ensuring you are “OR Ready” before you pick up the controllers.

Action: Follow the guided video path to standardize your learning experience.

Yes. PrecisionOS is compatible with Meta Quest 3, and 3s. If you already own a headset, you simply need to download the PrecisionOS Launcher from the App Store and sign in with your institution email and membership credentials.

Action: Download the launcher and log in.

Your Individual Membership is a month-to-month subscription ($99/mo) designed for residents who want 24/7 access to surgical rehearsal without a long-term contract.  Reach out for information about an institutional membership.

Action: Your card is billed every 30 days from the date of signup.

Hospital networks will often require a MAC address for device white-listing. You can find this in your Meta Quest headset settings under About > MAC Address.

Action: Reach out to provide your IT department with the MAC address found in your headset settings.

Both the headset firmware and the PrecisionOS app must be up to date to prevent technical glitches. Go to Settings > Software Update on your Quest and check the Launcher for app updates.

Action: Enable “Auto-updates” in your headset settings.

About The Author

Image de Danny P. Goel, MD

Danny P. Goel, MD

Is the CEO of PrecisionOS and is a practicing surgeon and surgical educator. Dr. Goel currently practices in the Vancouver, B.C. area and also serves on the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

He received his medical degree from the University of Manitoba, pursued his residency training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Calgary, and completed fellowship training in shoulder surgery at the University of Western Ontario and Harvard University.

Goel has co-authored more than 30 publications, and is widely sought as a presenter on surgical techniques.

21 Months of Automated VR Data

MAJOR ACADEMIC ORTHOPAEDIC RESIDENCY PROGRAM

How self-directed VR practice fills the seams of the clinical day and produces measurable learning trajectories—completely automatically.

Executive Summary:

Over a 21-month period, 30 orthopaedic residents integrated immersive VR into their training curriculum. With a simple, weekly requirement for residents to practice in headset, the platform seamlessly captured over 88,000 structured data points across 2,566 practice sessions. The resulting data proved that when residents have access to high-fidelity, frictionless simulation and are motivated, they will hone their skills and demonstrate clear performance improvements.

Frictionless Adoption: Practice doesn't compete with clinical time. The data revealed that 45% of all sessions happened organically during lunch breaks or on weekends.

Comprehensive Coverage: Usage wasn't limited to a single subspecialty. Residents attempted 61 distinct cases across 27 procedure modules, proving active engagement from Foundations & Anatomy to Complex Trauma.

Measurable Improvement: The platform didn't just track usage; it tracked skill acquisition. Across 288 scored playthroughs, longitudinal data showed a clear performance signal, with residents demonstrating an average positive learning delta of +0.36 over time.

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Own Your Progress.

Download the PrecisionOS mobile app to access Delphi’s insight reports and turn every VR session into a springboard for future success.

Step #1

State Your Intent

Tell Delphi, your AI Attending Mentor, what you are looking to practice.

Step #2

Get Practice Recommendations

Based on your request, Delphi will suggest personalized VR apps and Video training.

Step #3

Queue Apps In VR

Tap Add to Queue and the VR app will be waiting for you in headset.

Step #4

Learn From Experts

Access the video library for expert-led Virtual Grand Rounds and discover surgical pearls from industry leaders and device experts.

Step #4

Practice With A Plan

Go through the recommended VR apps to gain the skills and repetition needed for success. 

Step #5

Review Performance Insights

After your VR session, review your personalized performance insight on your phone to maximine your OR success. 

Smiling businessman in blue suit and tie against gray background.

Dr. Andrew Maeso

Orthopedic resident

From Uncertainty to Execution

“You already have a plan, now you’re just executing it.”

The Story: Bridging the "Intern Gap"

Dr. Andrew Maeso recognizes the steep reality of residency: “As an intern, you are thrown into the fire.” For him, the hurdle wasn’t just the surgery—it was the invisible mechanics (positioning, X-ray angles, and workflow) that move too fast to learn in a high-pressure OR.

The Solution: Access Over Policy

By bringing the PrecisionOS ecosystem home, Dr. Maeso replaced passive YouTube watching with active mental rehearsal. This allowed him to arrive in the OR with the “steps” already hard-coded into his muscle memory.

The Game Changer: Personal headsets issued for at-home, 24/7 training.

Clinical Focus: Mastery of Antegrade Femoral Nails and Shoulder Arthroscopy.

Program Growth: Experience led to secured funding for all incoming residents.

Smiling man wearing glasses and checkered shirt in an office setting.

Roberto Oliveira

Founder

Over his 25 years in the gaming industry, Roberto Oliveira has been known for bringing stunning realism and high fidelity to interactive experiences.

He combines an art director’s artistic vision with solid business leadership, including experience in building art teams, creative team management, project planning, project management and business development.

Over the years, his talents have been showcased in projects for major publishers including Sony, Activision, Disney and Electronic Arts.

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Dr. Ryan Lohre

MGH Staff Surgeon

From Resident to MGH Staff Surgeon

“Prepare like it matters. Because in the OR—it does.”

The Story: The Currency of Trust

Dr. Ryan Lohre’s trajectory changed during a complex pediatric case that had already seen two failed attempts by tenured surgeons. While textbooks offered the theory, Dr. Lohre used VR to master the 3D spatial intelligence required to build a mental model of the deformity and navigate C-arm imagery in real-time.

The Solution: The 18-Minute Sandbox

The night before surgery, Dr. Lohre rehearsed the procedure four times in VR from his own home. This high-fidelity rehearsal allowed him to arrive in the OR functioning at 80-90% proficiency, compared to the typical 10-20% for a resident facing a new, complex procedure.

The Game Changer: 18 minutes of at-home VR prep for a complex pediatric case.

Clinical Focus: Spatial intelligence for C-arm interpretation and screw trajectory.

Program Growth: Transitioned from trainee to Staff Surgeon at Mass General.

Dental professional in white coat with PrecisionOS logo.

Dr. Barry McDonough

Program Director

Teaching with Surgical Efficiency

“I let the junior resident do more than ever before—and still finished on time.”

The Story: Reclaiming the OR

While at West Virginia University (WVU), Dr. Barry McDonough faced a universal challenge: balancing resident education with strict OR efficiency. By the time residents step into the OR, foundational skills like camera handling and triangulation should be second nature—not a distraction that slows down the case.

The Solution: Independent Preparation

Residents were assigned just 10 minutes of asynchronous VR training per week. This allowed them to master the “invisible” basics of arthroscopy on their own time. With an average of 17 sessions completed during the pilot, residents arrived with a mental roadmap that translated into immediate technical fluency.

The Game Changer: Asynchronous prep—residents train independently at home.

Clinical Focus: Mastery of triangulation, scope control, and anchor placement.

Program Growth: Model expanded across trauma, spine, and upper extremity.

Man in blue suit with glasses smiling in front of bookshelf.

Dr. Charlie Spieser

Orthopedic Resident

Mastering the Visuo-Spatial Gap

“VR practice shifts questioning from case generalizations to technique refinement.”

The Story: From Application to Confidence

Charlie Spieser highlights a universal resident hurdle: the high-stress transition from “book knowledge” to real-world execution. Early in training, the fear of making irreversible decisions can lead to hesitation. To bridge this gap, Charlie utilized VR as a daily resource for kinetic learning and anatomical association.

The Solution: Refining Spatial Intelligence

Unlike textbooks or passive videos, PrecisionOS allowed Charlie to practice high-stakes approaches—such as the anterior total hip—in a guided, 3D environment. This repetition provided a “safe sandbox” to identify why errors occurred, building the visuo-spatial confidence required to navigate complex anatomy before ever entering the OR.

The Game Changer: Daily Integration—normalized as an expected program resource.

Clinical Focus: Anterior Total Hip and Deltopectoral surgical approaches.

Program Growth: Nuanced Mentorship—shifting focus to specific faculty preferences.

Orthopaedic virtual reality training for junior residents in surgery.

Immersive Virtual Reality Training for a Junior Orthopaedic Surgery Resident

Andres D Maeso, DO, Michael R McDermott, DO, Jerrod A Steimle, DO

How consistent iVR training accelerates technical fluency and attending trust for first-year residents.

Executive Summary: This case study follows a first-year resident’s integration of immersive VR (iVR) into their surgical curriculum. By dedicating consistent training time to virtual modules, the resident was able to master procedural steps and receive real-time feedback in a risk-free environment before ever stepping into the operating room. The study highlights that this deliberate practice led to a “noticeable improvement in overall efficiency” and significantly increased the attending’s trust and confidence in the resident’s intraoperative capabilities.

Source Attribution: Immersive Virtual Reality Training for a Junior Orthopaedic Surgery Resident, Journal of Orthopaedic Experience & Innovation (2025).

Muscle Memory Development: The repetitive nature of immersive VR (iVR) training, combined with constant real-time feedback, allows technical surgical steps to become deep-seated muscle memory.

Measurable Efficiency Gains: Residents utilizing the platform observe a "noticeable improvement" in overall efficiency and technical proficiency when performing complex orthopedic procedures.

Accelerated Attending Trust: Preoperative rehearsal in a virtual environment significantly increases attending surgeon confidence, directly leading to increased autonomy for the resident in the operating room.

Professional man in business attire for PrecisionOS.

Danny P. Goel, MD

Chef de la direction

A practicing surgeon and surgical educator, Dr. Goel currently practices in the Vancouver, B.C. area and also serves on the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

He received his medical degree from the University of Manitoba, pursued his residency training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Calgary, and completed fellowship training in shoulder surgery at the University of Western Ontario and Harvard University.

Goel has co-authored more than 30 publications, and is widely sought as a presenter on surgical techniques.

Professional man smiling in a blue shirt for PrecisionOS About Us page.

Colin O'Connor

Founder

Colin O’Connor brings a proven track record as a business leader and entrepreneur, as well as expertise at developing cutting-edge technology to create immersive, high-fidelity experiences.

He has overseen and played key leadership roles in the highest echelons of the video game industry, founding companies and taking more than 16 top-tier titles to market.

He has worked at the forefront in innovating new rendering technologies in the areas of lighting, motion, particle graphics and shading that bring unprecedented realism to interactive experiences.

Step #1

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Tell Delphi, your AI Attending Mentor, what you want to practice today.