The vast majority of medical education is neither open nor distributed. Tuition costs an average of $14,444 and the curriculum is delivered on a strict timeline using in-person instruction (Mercer, 2019). The high tuition prices and structured time commitment lead to barriers and inequities in the medical education system. How can educators alleviate this inequity? Some medical schools across Canada and the United States are using open and distributed content as an effort to decrease tuition costs and implement more flexible learning schedules (Liyanagunawardena & Williams, 2019). So far, this has been achieved with massive open online courses (MOOCS). In-person instruction remains the prominent delivery method as medical students gain practical skills in clinical settings (Chen et al., 2019). However, as technology advances, simulations may supplement the initial in-person practice. Virtual reality (VR) is an interactive simulation in which the user can manipulate a three-dimensional computer-generated environment. Using the SECTIONS Model, I have analyzed VR’s strengths and weaknesses to determine how it can be used in the future of  medical education. I believe that VR has the potential to enrich open and distributed medical education because simulations allow students to experience interactive learning in any setting.

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