UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
Governor General's Gold Medallist uses VR to level up nursing education

Long before she became a Governor General's Gold Medallist, Dr. Geneveave Barbo's (PhD) first experience with digital caregiving came in the form of a Tamagotchi, a pocket-sized virtual pet. Now, she has taken her lifelong love of video games and leveraged it into immersive virtual reality (IVR) simulations that help nursing students support migrants facing mental health challenges.

Dr. Geneveave Barbo, this year's Governor General Gold Medallist. (Photo: Submitted)

Before pursuing her doctorate, Barbo worked as a nurse in both urban centres as well as remote rural areas. While working as a community health nurse in northern Manitoba, Barbo recalled meeting a teenager experiencing suicidal thoughts. With few mental health resources available in the community, Barbo did her best to offer compassionate listening and support within her professional role. The experience stayed with her, reinforcing her belief that far more must be done to ensure that young people, particularly those navigating complex social or personal challenges, receive the care and support they deserve.

"It just struck me that there's really limited access to mental health supports in rural or remote areas. I also began thinking about urban settings, where barriers to accessing mental health care persist, and how health care professionals play such a critical role in bridging these gaps," said Barbo. "Even after graduating, many [nursing students] are still unprepared to meet mental health care needs for the general population, and even more for marginalized populations."

Having immigrated to Canada years ago, Barbo thought about her own experiences and the barriers that prevent other migrants from accessing mental health care, including cultural differences, language barriers, stigma, and discrimination.

"There are systemic and structural barriers, but at the same time, health care professionals, such as nurses, have an important role to play in being part of the solution. Through the way they interact with patients and approach care, they can gradually help dismantle these barriers from within the system. There's this avenue we have as nurses that can be part of the solution in our practice."

Under the supervision of Dr. Pamela Patrucka (PhD) and with guidance from advisory committee members Dr. Donald Leidl (EdD), Dr. Hua Li (PhD), Dr. Solina Richter (DCur), and Dr. Marjorie Montreuil (PhD), Barbo started her doctoral journey at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). She built an immersive virtual simulation where nursing students at USask and McGill University practiced supporting a virtual Filipina immigrant patient (Mrs. S.), in a safe environment that allowed them to make mistakes and learn without fear of real-world consequences.

The IVR simulation was built using Unity, a game development engine that offers a blank canvas for developers, and AI tools like ChatGPT used to assist in coding. Barbo created a simulated emergency department and community health clinic where students could meet, communicate, and follow the care journey of Mrs. S., who was experiencing a mental health crisis and diagnosed with anxiety and depressive disorders. 

Student reception for the IVR simulation has been positive.

"Students are really interested, and it helps them practice in a safe space to make mistakes," said Barbo.

Based on evaluations before and after participating in the simulation, students have demonstrated growth in cultural competency, as well as a modest reduction in stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with mental health challenges. Some students reported that the experience helped them to reflect on their practice and how inequities and stigma impact patients in the Canadian health care system.

"The cultural [competency] piece of it is very, very important, because it helps them prepare for the nuances that they may only see later in their career," said Barbo.

As a teacher herself, Barbo is excited to see a shift towards tools like this.

"The curriculum doesn't prepare you as much as actually going out there and talking to somebody [with mental health challenges] does."

Currently, Barbo is in talks with course co-ordinators about integrating VR into mental health areas of the curriculum, but she thinks there are more opportunities to leverage the technology to create a more interactive learning experience.

The cultural competency components of the IVR can be adapted and developed into Indigenous anti-racism modules for nursing students and may even help to prepare students for critical care and community placements.

The safe space offered by IVR may also be helpful to prepare students for sensitive topics when learning about ethics in the classroom.

"Students can have a safe space to grapple with their own biases or experiences and learn how to better navigate them," said Barbo.

"I am very thankful to my mother, who gave so much to my sisters and me. She's the one who encouraged me to pursue a career in nursing and instilled in us the values of compassion, respect, and humility that continue to guide me today." 

Dr. Geneveave Barbo

For Barbo, being recognized with the Governor General's Gold Medal is an immense honour, and she carries deep gratitude for her mother, whose sacrifices and strength have inspired her to keep striving to make a difference through her work.

"I am very thankful to my mother, who gave so much to my sisters and me," said Barbo. "She's the one who encouraged me to pursue a career in nursing and instilled in us the values of compassion, respect, and humility that continue to guide me today." 

College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS) Dean Dr. Debby Burshtyn (PhD) said Barbo's work is a powerful example of how compassion and innovation can come together to create meaningful change.

"Barbo's dedication to improving mental health care and nursing education through technology is inspiring," said Burshtyn. "We're proud to see her recognized with the Governor General's Gold Medal."

Dr. Louise Racine (PhD), associate dean, research and graduate studies at the College of Nursing, believes that Barbo's work challenges the traditional perceptions of nursing.  

"Dr. Barbo illustrates what it means to be a nurse scientist using evidence-based research to develop practical tools enhancing both nursing education and quality of care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges."

Barbo is currently a post-doctoral fellow at McGill University, where she is working on how digital innovations can contribute to improving youth mental health care. In the future, Barbo hopes to continue to research and use VR, AI, and other technologies to enhance the accessibility of mental health care, health education, and health literacy.