A Radiation Therapy student demonstrates the use of VERT technology.
A state-of-the-art radiation therapy training lab was officially opened at the Burnaby Campus October 3. Thanks to a partnership between the BC Cancer Agency, the London Drugs Foundation, and the Envision Financial Community Endowment administrated by the First West Foundation, the teaching system known as Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training (VERT) is now being used by Health Sciences students at BCIT.
VERT is a large 3D projection system complete with special goggles, a virtual linear accelerator (an X-ray unit used to treat cancer), and life-size visualizations of the human body. The system helps students learn and practice radiation therapy techniques in a safe, calm, and cost-effective environment.
Staff, students, and donors were on hand to attend the opening of the London Drugs Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training Laboratory, which featured a demonstration of the remarkable technology by current Radiation Therapy students.
“We are very grateful to our partners for providing us with this sophisticated educational system,” said Bill Dow, dean of the School of Health Sciences. “This hands-on learning is critical to improving students’ confidence and technique as they help treat BC’s cancer patients.”
Nearly 60 percent of all new cancer patients in BC undergo radiation therapy and almost all of those patients – no matter where they are in the province – are treated by BCIT Radiation Therapy graduates working through the BC Cancer Agency.
VERT will help BCIT radiation therapy students develop core competencies which will assist the health care system in treating the 179,000 patients across the province who undergo radiation treatment each year.
