Virtual reality and cancer related anxiety

Dr. Joe Powers, Chief Strategy Officer at AppliedVR, discusses the collaboration between AppliedVR and the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institute of Health, to evaluate virtual reality (VR) therapeutics as a solution to help cancer patients suffering from stress and anxiety. 

Dr. Joe Powers has been leading digital health programs in Pharma, academia and in various startups for 20 years.  He is Chief Strategy Officer at AppliedVR, where he is responsible for the company’s digital medicine and healthcare strategy, including their program to develop FDA-cleared medical VR devices to treat and manage pain and anxiety.  Prior to AppliedVR, Joe established and led Headspace Health, a prescription digital therapeutics subsidiary of Headspace. For nearly a decade, Joe developed and led HealthIT and digital medicine programs within academia, including at Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked on pioneering efforts in precision medicine, telehealth, mhealth and connected health solutions.  In addition, Joe spent 8 years in a variety of commercial roles within the pharmaceutical industry where he developed an expertise in mobile health and invented three patented software tools to improve patient-physician interactions, medical diagnoses and medication adherence. Joe has a doctoral degree in exercise psychology, along with Master’s degrees in business, organizational dynamics, education, and bioethics.