Projects
Transforming Indigenous Healthcare Through Virtual Reality-Based Empathy Training
This project explores how first-person virtual reality storytelling can help healthcare providers better understand Indigenous patients’ experiences.
Working with a Blackfeet Community Advisory Board, we are developing immersive experiences informed by community perspectives on healthcare access, communication, trust, and cultural humility. Community guidance shapes research priorities and the development and review of narratives.
The project aims to evaluate how these experiences influence provider empathy and cultural humility while keeping community priorities central to the work.
Immersive Vaccine Education
This project explores how virtual reality can make the immune response to vaccination easier to understand.
We are developing an immersive experience that visualizes processes that patients cannot ordinarily see. Our research examines its potential to support patient understanding and communication about vaccination, alongside its practical fit within healthcare settings.
Indigenous Food Pharmacy
Through the University of Montana’s Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health initiative, we are working with partners to develop a culturally grounded food pharmacy program for urban American Indian and Alaska Native adults in Missoula.
The program brings together food access, cooking skills, nutrition education, health coaching, and clinical assessments. Planned resources include seasonal food knowledge, recipes, and a digital toolkit to help participants find and use available food resources.
Community advisors and Indigenous knowledge holders will guide program development and evaluation.
Virtual Reality in Science Education
We investigate how immersive environments can support learning in chemistry, neuroscience, and pharmacy.
Our work examines how students experience virtual environments, how opportunities for interaction influence engagement, and how immersive activities can complement classroom instruction.
Interested in Participation
Interested in research, student opportunities, or collaboration? Contact Dr. Katie Holick at Katie.holick@umt.edu