Who She Is
Mahra Almansoori is a Senior Digital Content Developer at the Institute of Learning at Mohammad Bin Rashid Medicine and Health Sciences University, where she works within a medical school environment to design engaging, practice-driven learning experiences. Her role focuses on translating complex medical content into accessible, interactive formats that support healthcare education and learner safety.
VR knows no age
Where VR Fits in Medical Education
At Mahra’s institution, simulation is a core pillar of how future healthcare professionals learn. Virtual reality complements existing approaches by adding another modality to an already rich ecosystem of practice-based education.
Students rotate through a range of learning experiences, including physical mannequins, simulated patients played by actors, and digital environments. VR adds flexibility and variety, allowing learners to practice skills in scenarios that may be difficult to recreate consistently in physical settings.
Mahra’s VR project emerged from a real instructional need. While learners often study vaccination theory and safety protocols, opportunities for hands-on post-procedural training can be limited.
She chose to focus on vaccine waste disposal, an essential but often overlooked aspect of clinical safety. Errors in this area can pose serious risks, making it an ideal candidate for immersive, practice-based learning.
Inside the Vaccine Waste Disposal Experience
The VR activity places healthcare professionals in training inside a controlled clinical environment where they must safely dispose of vaccine-related materials.
Learners are asked to:
- Identify different types of vaccine-related waste items
- Match each item to the correct disposal bin
- Distinguish between biohazardous and regular waste
- Receive immediate feedback on their decisions
"The goal was to basically dispose of all the vaccine-related waste items in the proper disposal bins."
Though the concept was intentionally straightforward, the impact was meaningful.
Learning Through Feedback and Repetition
One of the strengths of immersive learning is the ability to practice without real-world consequences. In Mahra’s experience, real-time feedback helped reinforce correct behavior and highlight potential risks.
This kind of interaction supports muscle memory, confidence, and situational awareness, all critical elements in healthcare and medical safety training.
Although Mahra has a strong background in digital content and augmented reality, designing a fully immersive VR experience was a new challenge. Instead of building from a distance, she found herself inside the environment, shaping the experience as a participant and a designer at the same time. What began as an adjustment quickly became a creative highlight.
"The process ended up being so much fun."
Don’t be intimidated by the fact that it’s a new technology.
Advice for Trying VR
Mahra sees virtual reality as a powerful addition not only to clinical simulation, but to health professions education more broadly.
For educators and designers considering VR for the first time, Mahra emphasizes patience and openness. Initial uncertainty is normal, but the payoff can be significant. She believes immersive learning has relevance at any stage of a career.
"Once you get into it, you will love it."
Build Safer Training Experiences
Mahra Almansoori’s work demonstrates how virtual reality can support safer practices, stronger confidence, and more engaging learning experiences in medical education. By focusing on real-world tasks like vaccine waste disposal, immersive learning becomes practical, relevant, and impactful.
If you are exploring how virtual reality can enhance healthcare education, medical safety training, or clinical simulation, Zoe can help you turn practical ideas into immersive experiences. Create learning environments that give healthcare professionals the space to practice, learn, and improve with confidence.
Download Zoe to begin building your own VR lessons, or join the Zoe Creator Program to learn alongside educators who are shaping the future of learning through creativity and exploration.
