A young intern faces a first-time patient complaining of tingling, dizziness and feeling unusually tired.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old man could have multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder or several other conditions affecting the central nervous system. The intern asks questions and consults test results, needing to make the right diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Concerned and curious, he turns to the nurse and attending physician, with their heads shaped like blocks.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re not in a hospital. This is all part of a pre-med class at the University of Texas at Dallas that uses the computer game Minecraft.<\/p>\n
The class is Experiential Medical Reasoning, designed to help these students like22 year old Sahar Bavandi pass the MCAT, the test needed for acceptance into medical school.<\/p>\n
Even though Bavandi had never played Minecraft before, she adapted rapidly and likes it. She said the game has helped her visualize hospital settings, equipment and people that she would otherwise not be familiar with.<\/p>\n
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\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a0IMG_8755.jpg 4-30-2026_Dr. Kildebeck in UTD classroom_zeeble\n <\/p>\n
Dr. Eric Kildebeck teaches pre-med students in his UTD class where Minecraft is used throughout the semester<\/p>\n
Bill Zeeble \/ KERA News<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have this patient in the ICU with the symptoms. What do we need?\u201d Bavandi said, as she demonstrates the game. \u201cAnd because of the game I remembered that we need, like, an oxygen mask or other things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pre-med students don\u2019t spend time in hospitals as part of their education. This virtual Minecraft hospital helps supplement that.
Bavandi said the game also helps remind her about specialized equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to use the devices,\u201dBavandi said. \u201cSo whenever we talk about a hematology analyzer, what’s that? Because you’ve been doing it, that’s how you remember it.”<\/p>\n
The teacher here, Dr. Eric Kildebeck, helped create the course with colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe built a virtual hospital in Minecraft, and the students can go in and make diagnostic decisions for patients, run lab tests, things like that,\u201d he said. “Until you’re actually there, exposed to stuff, you don’t really know what it is because you’re not allowed to go into the hospital and care for patients.\u201d Kildebeck said.<\/p>\n
He said this game takes pre-med students into a virtual hospital for a more realistic sense of a physician\u2019s life and duties in a medical facility. The visit includes tasks doctors must perform to properly diagnose patients.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s helped student Omar Choudhry. The 24-year-old took to the game easily, having played Minecraft as a teenager. He\u2019s learned about correct diagnosing based partly on this game.<\/p>\n
Choudhry logs into this hospital version of Minecraft and faces a virtual hospital patent with multiple sclerosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are going to be questions related to that. Now, if I were to get a question wrong, it’s going to tell me why it’s wrong and give me an explanation for that,\u201d said Choudhry. \u201cAnd then it’s going to tell me why the wrong ones were wrong to begin with, and give the correct version of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Choudhry said this method builds his knowledge and isn\u2019t as punishing as an exam. If he needs to repeat a lesson, he can \u2013 and sometimes does.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can actually learn from it,\u201d Choudhry said. \u201cIt tells me tells me exactly what I did wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Choudhry hopes that will help him get answers right on the MCAT. He takes the test in two weeks.<\/p>\n
Kildebeck said even in this class\u2019s first year, he\u2019s seen students benefit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey do great on the tests,\u201dKildebeck said.<\/p>\n
Next up \u2013 he and his colleagues are working on another Minecraft games focusing on biology and chemistry.<\/p>\n
Bill Zeeble is KERA\u2019s education reporter. Got a tip? Email Bill at\u00a0bzeeble@kera.org<\/a>. You can follow him on X\u00a0@bzeeble<\/a>.<\/p>\n KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider\u00a0making a tax-deductible gift today<\/a>. Thank you.<\/p>\n