Imagine learning how to diagnose and treat a stroke not in a lecture hall, but by solving puzzles under pressure 鈥 clicking through clues, reviewing CT scans, decoding crossword-style clinical findings 鈥 all while the clock ticks down.
That鈥檚 exactly the experience Rani Priyanka Vasireddy, MD, a movement disorders fellow and instructor in the 好色先生鈥檚 Department of Neurology, has brought to life with a first-of-its-kind virtual neurology-themed escape room. Vasireddy along with Dhanya Gorty, MD, an incoming 好色先生 neurology resident, developed the program to make medical education more engaging, interactive and fun. This innovative tool is already making waves in academic medicine.
鈥淲e鈥檙e neurologists 鈥 we love solving puzzles,鈥 said Vasireddy. 鈥淪o we asked ourselves, why can鈥檛 learning neurology feel like solving one? That鈥檚 how the escape room idea was born.鈥
The project was recently showcased at the American Academy of Neurology鈥檚 annual meeting, where participants got a sneak peek into the game鈥檚 inaugural case: a simulated stroke alert scenario, where learners must gather information, assess symptoms and act quickly to 鈥渟ave the patient鈥 鈥 virtually, of course.
A game with a purpose
Unlike traditional simulations, where students respond to scripted patient scenarios in a lab setting, this digital escape room uses interactive elements and real-time feedback to guide learners through complex clinical reasoning.
鈥淚nstead of giving them the case upfront, they find the case,鈥 said Vasireddy. 鈥淓very action leads to a clue 鈥 clicking on the patient鈥檚 face might reveal facial droop, while clicking on the leg may show weakness. It鈥檚 immersive and mimics real clinical thinking.鈥
The virtual design also overcomes a key limitation of physical escape rooms: space.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 need a real room, mannequins or actors. My coding skills and health care IT background made it possible to build the experience online,鈥 said Vasireddy, who developed the game using a cost-efficient platform after extensive research.
But the game is not just about fun 鈥 it鈥檚 rooted in serious training. The creators used the to curriculum development and to ensure the experience delivers educational value at multiple levels.
鈥淎t the most basic level, learners recall and understand medical knowledge,鈥 said Vasireddy. 鈥淭hen, they apply and analyze that knowledge to solve each challenge, building toward the ultimate goal: an accurate diagnosis and timely intervention.鈥
Teaching by doing 鈥 and failing forward
Failure is built into the experience 鈥 but in a way that promotes growth rather than discouragement.
鈥淲e originally considered letting the patient 鈥榙ie鈥 if the wrong choice was made, but we realized that could hurt morale,鈥 said Vasireddy. 鈥淚nstead, we built in live feedback. If learners take a wrong turn, the game tells them what went wrong and offers a chance to try again.鈥
This approach fosters a growth mindset, allowing participants to learn from mistakes without fear of judgment 鈥 something Gorty, who co-developed the project, calls 鈥渆dutainment.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect blend of education and entertainment,鈥 said Gorty. 鈥淎nd it works across training levels 鈥 from medical students to residents 鈥 because the challenge is in the process, not just the content.鈥
Looking ahead
Vasireddy hopes the escape room model can be adapted for a variety of topics and specialties and even be used as a teaching tool by other institutions. The team plans to provide participants with the materials and framework to create their own games, encouraging a new generation of educators to embrace innovation.
鈥淐reating something like this isn鈥檛 easy,鈥 she admitted. 鈥淭he hardest part wasn鈥檛 the coding 鈥 it was building an experience that鈥檚 educational, engaging and linear, so learners don鈥檛 lose track of the objective. That takes time, testing and a lot of iteration.鈥
Still, the payoff is worth it.
鈥淚n the end, we鈥檙e not just teaching facts 鈥 we鈥檙e teaching how to think like a neurologist,鈥 Vasireddy said. 鈥淎nd if we can do that in a way that鈥檚 fun, memorable, and maybe even a little thrilling? That鈥檚 a win.鈥