It’s been a great few months, I hope after I explain, you’ll understand why I haven’t been posting much. First, I found out I’ll receive the 2013 Innovation in Education Award from the International Anesthesia Research Society—a great honor that recognizes our work in the realm of games-based learning / virtual environments.

The award recognizes and funds novel concepts or applications that improve educational programs and advance the practice of anesthesiology. I’ll be flying out to San Diego to pick up the award next week.

Next, I found out I’m one of the lucky GoogleGlass Explorers. I’ll be bringing home a pair as soon as they roll off the assembly line (hopefully in the next month or two). We have big plans for these babies. I’ll be sure to post on our experience.

Finally, I just returned from a two-week trip to Adelaide, Australia. The Government of South Australia licensed and customized one one of our virtual environment projects (on postpartum hemorrhage) to use as a proof-of-concept for training their healthcare workforce. Our software allows geographically disperse learners to work together in a shared virtual environment, taking care of a critically ill virtual patients. We’ve incorporated a system for practicing TeamSTEPPS (an evidence-based method of teamwork and communication in healthcare. The project is / was a great success. My hosts / collaborators in Australia were fantastic.

Not to mention, the wines of the Barossa Region were phenomenal.

Now back to work!