How Johnson & Johnson Is Expanding Access to Surgical Training with VR
The Johnson & Johnson Institute is using virtual reality to help healthcare professionals learn and practice surgical procedures in immersive environments. By combining hands-on simulation with its global education programs, the Institute is making surgical training more accessible, repeatable, and flexible.
As a ManageXR customer, Johnson & Johnson is part of a growing movement toward using immersive technology in professional healthcare education.
Pioneering virtual reality in healthcare
The Johnson & Johnson Institute provides education and training for surgeons, medical residents, and other healthcare professionals around the world. Its VR training program allows participants to practice complex procedures in realistic virtual operating rooms, helping them develop skills before entering clinical settings.
Research has demonstrated the potential of this approach. In a study conducted by Imperial College London, 83% of VR-trained residents were able to perform a studied surgical procedure in a lab setting with little or no guidance, compared with none of the traditionally trained group.
The Institute's work demonstrates how virtual reality can complement conventional surgical education and extend opportunities for hands-on learning beyond physical training facilities.
Making surgical training more accessible
Learning a new surgical procedure takes practice. Traditionally, surgeons develop their skills through a combination of observation, classroom instruction, simulation labs, cadaver-based training, and supervised experience in the operating room.
These approaches are essential, but they also have limitations. Training can be limited by access to specialized facilities or equipment. Healthcare professionals must also balance education with demanding clinical schedules.
Surgical technologies also continue to evolve. New medical devices and procedures create an ongoing need for training, even among experienced practitioners.
For the Johnson & Johnson Institute, the challenge was to give healthcare professionals more ways to practice and develop their skills, regardless of where they work.
Bringing surgical training into virtual reality
The Johnson & Johnson Institute began exploring VR surgical training in 2017, developing immersive experiences that allowed surgeons to practice procedures involving orthopedic devices.
Working with VR development partner Osso VR, the Institute expanded its training offerings to portable, standalone VR headsets. Within a virtual operating room, learners can work through the steps of a procedure, familiarize themselves with surgical tools, and repeat exercises to reinforce their knowledge.
Unlike a traditional training lab, VR allows participants to repeat simulated procedures without requiring a new set of physical materials for each session.
These experiences give healthcare professionals another way to prepare for hands-on training and supervised clinical practice.
Supporting VR programs with device management
As VR programs expand, device administrators must consider how to prepare headsets, distribute training applications, manage device configurations, and keep equipment ready for use.
ManageXR is designed to support these operational requirements. Organizations like Johnson & Johnson can configure headsets, deploy applications and updates, monitor device status, and reduce the need to manage every device individually.
For healthcare education programs, these capabilities create a foundation for delivering consistent VR experiences across training environments.
Building the future of healthcare training
The Johnson & Johnson Institute's investment in virtual reality reflects a broader shift in how healthcare professionals learn.
Immersive technology offers new opportunities to practice complex procedures, collaborate remotely, and build confidence before entering a real operating room.
As other healthcare institutions adopt VR for their curriculum, reliable device management becomes an important part of supporting those experiences at scale.
ManageXR helps organizations manage the technology behind immersive training, so teams can spend more time focused on education and less on the logistics of deploying VR.
