In this episode of Majors, Minors & Maybes, we explore the fascinating world of the Medical Game Designer. The creative minds building video games, VR simulations, and interactive experiences that teach patients, train doctors, and make healthcare less intimidating.

Through the story of Andie, a designer creating a game that helps kids understand and manage asthma, we uncover how gaming, medicine, psychology, and technology collide to create real-world impact.

From virtual emergency rooms to patient education adventures, this episode dives into:

• how medical games are developed
• the science behind learning through play
• what to study if you’re interested in this career
• internships, volunteer opportunities, and skills that help you break into the field

Whether you love coding, storytelling, healthcare, or gaming, this episode might just introduce you to a career you never knew existed.

Press start on one of the most unexpected careers in healthcare.

Show Notes:

Medical Game Designer: Turning Healthcare Into a High-Score Mission

Dr. W explores the career of medical game designers, who combine game mechanics with medical knowledge to train healthcare professionals, educate patients, support rehabilitation, and reduce anxiety before procedures using tools like VR, AR, and mobile apps. The episode follows eight-year-old Liam using a VR asthma game where levels teach triggers, inflammation, and inhaler use, improving his confidence and adherence. Andie, a biomedical engineering major with a game design minor, is introduced as the creator who partnered with clinicians and developers after seeing kids’ fear in a children’s hospital. Dr. W explains daily work like building realistic scenarios and decision trees, collaborating with medical teams, user testing, and using gameplay data as a research tool, plus pathways into the field, portfolio-building tips, workplaces, schedules, and salary ranges.

00:00 Saving Lives Like a Game

00:19 Meet Dr W and the Quest

00:48 Liam’s VR Asthma Mission

02:05 Andy Builds the Game

03:56 What Medical Game Designers Do

05:03 Office Hours Career Advice

06:44 A Day in the Job

07:55 Majors Minors and Skill Stack

09:15 Breaking In Salary and Workplaces

11:11 Why This Career Matters

11:46 Tech Data and High Scores

12:21 Wrap Up and Next Episode