Commercial and military pilots have been training in virtual environments for years, so why not medical students? CNN reported that the medical school at the Imperial College London has set up a virtual hospital where medical students are able to view X-rays, consult with colleagues and make diagnoses.

Students and educators at the college agree that real-life training in hospitals is superior to the simulated world, however, Second Life virtual training does break up the monotony of lectures and reading text books. Second Life training also provides the long-term possibility of collaborating with colleagues from around the world. Exploring virtual training is another another avenue for increasing teaching and collaboration environments for physicians and students in medically underserved communities.