WesternU College of Podiatric Medicine to expand virtual reality learning modules and financial aid with gifts from Dr. Bruce Lawrence and Mrs. Janet Lawrence

POMONA, Calif., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Western University of Health Sciences' College of Podiatric Medicine is expanding its virtual reality (VR) operating room thanks to a $500,000 gift from Dr. Bruce Lawrence and Mrs. Janet Lawrence.

"The Lawrence family is an extremely generous supporter of advancing education," said WesternU College of Podiatric Medicine Acting Dean Jacqueline Truong, DPM, MPH, FACFAS, DABPM.

"We see an opportunity to change the course of podiatric education and advance it to the next level while optimizing patient safety at the same time," Truong said. "This type of investment in the future of podiatric education and through our College specifically really helps our College be on the forefront. Our students benefit from these developments tremendously. They will achieve competency in a more innovative and integrated curriculum that meets them where they're at." 

Third-year College of Podiatric Medicine students will begin using the first two VR operating room modules this semester. The first module provides content on common surgical instruments used in podiatric surgery. The second module focuses on lower-extremity anatomy and common incisions in podiatric surgery.

"This virtual operating room provides layered instruction that becomes more complex and allows students to first learn new information and then apply it," Truong said.

Students review anatomy, understand the rationale for each incision, and learn where to make them. The modules also include competency-based education that longitudinally tracks students' progress in attaining their learning goals.

This generous donation by the Lawrence family will help the College fulfill its vision to expand and further develop its VR operating room to include surgeries and multi-user, interprofessional collaborative teams.

"These highly complex surgical teams are made up of highly educated individuals, so you have potentially different approaches to solving problems," Truong said. "These are high stakes because a life is on the line. In simulations, complex teams are working together to solve a problem. We can train individuals and teams while maximizing patient safety."

The College aligns with Dr. Lawrence's vision to prepare future podiatric physicians through the use of modern technology. Bruce Lawrence, DPM, and his wife, Janet, are philanthropists with a history of supporting education and health care. Dr. Lawrence is a podiatric surgeon, inventor, and educator with more than 55 years of experience in the medical field.

"We are excited to support this innovative project. The modules will help students prepare for surgical practice in a safe, nurturing environment before they set foot in an operating room," Dr. Lawrence said. "Students who receive this type of innovative instruction will be better prepared to serve the patients from their first days in clinic."

The VR modules also have the potential to help students beyond WesternU. "Once we have verified their use within our curriculum, we are looking forward to partnering with other podiatric medical schools to share this resource," said Truong.

Beyond the VR learning modules, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence have also provided a generous $50,000 endowed scholarship, which will be distributed for the first time during the 2026-27 academic year. "Getting the best preparation for a podiatric career is important, but so is the affordability of that education. The demand for podiatric care is increasing rapidly, and we are committed to helping more students join the profession," said Dr. Lawrence.

About Western University of Health Sciences

Western University of Health Sciences (www.westernu.edu), located in Pomona, Calif. and Lebanon, Ore., is an independent nonprofit health professions university, conferring degrees in biotechnology and pharmaceutical sciences, dental medicine, healthcare administration, medical sciences, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine. WesternU is home to WesternU Health, where the best in collaborative health care services is offered.

SOURCE Western University of Health Sciences