On September 14th the StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance and The UNC Process Series at UNC opened “Closer Than They Appear”. The production, directed by Joseph Megel, is set using Virtual Iraq and tells an incredible story of three individuals as they deal with loss, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), treatment, and the challenges of daily life.
The WUNC State of Things Host Frank Stasio interviewed playwright Christine Evans, multimedia designer Jared Mezzocchi, producer and actor Elisabeth Lewis Corley and actor Trevor Johnson in a segment titled “Virtual Reality Transports Theater Audiences Into Iraq War”. To listen to the interview, click here.
Several panels have been hosed during the run to facilitate discussion and learning. The September 24th Panel included:
Sonny Kelly – UNC-CH Department of Communication; US Air Force Veteran
Hilary Lithgow – UNC-CH Department of English and Comparative Literature
Dilshad Jaff – UNC-CH Gillings School of Global Public Health
Wayne Lee – UNC-CH Department of History, Veteran and Chair of Curriculum in Peace, War, and Defense
Gene Hobbs – UNC-CH Business Manager for Neurosurgery and former Director of #UNCsim at the Clinical Skills and Patient Simulation Center
Sarah Shields (Moderator) – UNC-CH Department of History
There are many opportunities to debrief many Medical Education topics. This is the last week of the production so if you are interested, click this link for details.
You can also check out this article from Byron Woods at IndyWeek titled “Closer Than They Appear Probes the Cutting Edges of Virtual Reality, the Military, and PTSD Treatment” by clicking here.