Global clinicians are expected to make ‘exhibition history’ by attending a lecture in the Metaverse with the launch of The Metaversity hosted live from Arab Health 2022.
Presented by cutting-edge surgeon Professor Shafi Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer of Medical Realities, the session will take place on the ABHI UK operating theatre and will connect medical professionals from around the world.
The Metaverse is a virtual world where animated avatars of our physical selves can interact with other people. It offers a combination of technologies including virtual reality, augmented reality and video where users are emersed within a digital universe. The Metaversity will support virtual learning experiences and certification for continued professional development.
In the session Professor Ahmed will demonstrate how digital technology works and how it can be used in healthcare, before conducting a medical lecture on acute appendicitis.
“Since Facebook revealed its intent to pivot to the metaverse, companies around the world have stepped up their activities in the space,” explains Professor Ahmed.
“The Metaverse is the digital world’s next big thing which means for healthcare the possibilities are endless. Last week I was proud to host the first Metaverse medical lecture at a British medical school and now this will be the first time it will be hosted live from a global medical exhibition.”
Prof Ahmed is a cancer surgeon at The Royal London and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals and has been dubbed the most-watched surgeon in human history, thanks to the global virtual reality live streaming of one of his operations.
The surgeon, teacher, futurist, innovator and entrepreneur is constantly pushing the boundaries in healthcare and medical innovation. At Arab Health 2019 Prof Ahmed performed virtual reality augmented reality surgery on the ABHI UK Pavilion. This year he intends to take digital HealthTech to the next level.
“This is such an exciting technology that makes learning fun,” addedProf Ahmed
“In the future, maybe we will see benefits such as remote collaboration with patients and dissemination of information among clinicians at different centres. Virtual reality and augmented reality are already making a difference in patients’ lives and Metaverse allows us to take this to the next level.”
Each year, the Arab Heath congress and exhibition attracts a high number of innovative UK companies exhibiting their technologies and solutions, across the HealthTech sector, including medical devices, diagnostics and digital health.
Organised by the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) – the industry association for the health technology sector in the UK – the UK Pavilion will highlight how UK developments are transforming the lives of patients and clinicians across the globe.
Paul Benton, Managing Director, International at ABHI said: “Many people describe the Metaverse as the next iteration of the internet – the real and virtual coming together to collaborate and share best practice in a format that is accessible to all.
“Professor Ahmed is a man of firsts and we are delighted to be able to take this to the next level by bringing the concept and technology to the exhibition calendar.”
Professor Ahmed will present three Metaversity sessions at Arab Health 2022:
- Monday 11.00 – 12.00 -The Surgical Metaversity – The future of surgical education
- Wednesday 10.00. 11.00: Space Health – the role of technology off planet, why we go and what we’ve learnt. Fireside chat with NASA Astronaut, Dr Scott E. Parazynski & 3D Life Prints, Henry Pinchbeck.
- Wednesday 11.30 – 12.30: Through the Looking Glass – Google Glass 7 years on, the future is now a reality
To register for any of the sessions please click here
About ABHI
ABHI is the UK’s leading industry association for health technology (HealthTech).
ABHI supports the HealthTech community to save and enhance lives. Members, including both multinationals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), supply products from syringes and wound dressings to surgical robots and digitally enhanced technologies.
We represent the industry to stakeholders, such as the government, NHS and regulators. HealthTech plays a key role in supporting the delivery of healthcare and is a significant contributor to the UK’s economic growth.
HealthTech is now the largest employer in the broader Life Sciences sector, employing 138,100 people in 4,140 companies, with a combined turnover of £27.6bn. The industry has enjoyed growth of around 5% in recent years. ABHI’s 320 members account for approximately 80% of the sector by value.
