We are excited to announce that SimX and the US Air Force (USAF) are launching the new Virtual Advancement of Learning and Operational Readiness (VALOR) program to develop the next generation of VR medical simulation training.

The VALOR program aims to make VR medical simulation training more flexible, more comprehensive, and more accessible, with the overall goal of making simulation training ubiquitous across both civilian and military medicine.

The program is launching with support from an initial $1 million USAF SBIR award, and initial efforts will focus on expanding existing simulation training capabilities for training frontline COVID-19 healthcare workers. Two free COVID-19 training simulations are already available to the general public.

The guiding principle for the VALOR program is to enable healthcare workers to “train how they fight” through fully immersive simulation training. SimX’s Chief Technology Officer, Karthik V. Sarma, is the Principal Investigator for the program, and will coordinate efforts with USAF program leader Col. John R. Dorsch, DO, Wing Surgeon of the 24th Special Operations Wing (SOW), and USAF Pararescue Medical Director.

“The VALOR program will increase overall medical capability and improve survival rates in US, Coalition, and partner force combat casualties,” said Col. Dorsch. “These capabilities are critical for ensuring that the highest level of combat trauma and austere medical care are provided by the 24th SOW’s special operations ground forces.”

The advancements developed by the VALOR program will immediately be available across SimX’s existing network of simulation training deployments within the Department of Defense and the civilian medical simulation market.