Healthcare education is evolving rapidly, as new technologies create opportunities to train students and professionals in safer, more interactive environments.
The 2026 Fetzer Lecture features Tess McKinney, CEO of Firework Media Studio, LLC, a Nebraska-based consulting studio specializing in immersive technologies including virtual reality, augmented reality, and extended reality.
McKinney will explore how these immersive technologies are transforming healthcare education and clinical education through her presentation, “Immersive Technology in Healthcare Education: Transforming How We Train the Next Generation” on April 14 from 7-8 p.m. in the Callen Conference Center.
In her work, McKinney has supported more than 100 institutions exploring and implementing immersive technology solutions, including the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, and The Ohio State University. McKinney is also widely recognized for curating one of the largest publicly available lists of XR (extended reality) technologies used in healthcare and training.
In 2025, McKinney was named the Women in Tech Innovator of the Year and the Volunteer of the Year by the Aksarben Foundation, honoring her leadership in advancing immersive technology and her commitment to supporting education and communities across Nebraska.