Medical Augmented Reality Summer School 2025

What if the future of surgery could be tested today? At the Medical AR Summer School 2025, that vision came closer to reality.

What if the future of surgery could be tested today? At the Medical AR Summer School 2025, that vision came closer to reality.

The future of medicine emerges where clinical expertise, data science, and technological innovation converge. This bridge was built at the fifth Medical Augmented Reality Summer School (MARSS), held last August at Balgrist University Hospital and OR-X. More than 50 professionals from 13 countries – spanning from surgeons to engineers – collaborated on new methods and concepts in the fields of Medical Augmented Reality (AR) and Surgical Data Science, two key drivers of personalized and more precise medicine.

A forum for exchange and medical progress

  • Attentive participants listen to a faculty member's keynote speech in the Balgrist Auditorium.
A forum for exchange and medical progress

Over eight days, disciplines that often operate separately in everyday clinical practice came together in keynotes, workshops, and a hackathon. Data models, navigation systems, and visualization techniques were not only presented but also further developed and tested for real-world application in the operating room under the guidance of international experts.

"Particularly valuable was the international and interdiciplinary exchange during MARSS25, which ultimately provided all participants with new insights", emphasized Dr. Matthias Seibold, Deputy Head of the research group "ROCS" and member of the organizing committee.

A highlight of this interdisciplinary environment was the first-ever Medical Training Track at OR-X. Surgeons and students were able to test technologies such as AI-assisted navigation, robotic systems, and AR-based access simulations under realistic conditions. Two live surgeries on human specimens – an endoscopic spinal decompression and an open spinal fusion – offered a unique glimpse into how digital systems can be integrated into surgical practice and how innovations can be tested safely without risk to patients.

Innovation powered by Balgrist

Innovation powered by Balgrist

The Summer School clearly demonstrated the contribution Balgrist and its ecosystem make to medical progress. Beyond new impulses for research and education, connections were forged that extend far beyond Zurich. For the participants, the real value lay in the combination of lectures, hands-on training, and international exchange. This interplay accelerates knowledge transfer into clinical practice and firmly anchors innovation at Balgrist in both education and patient care.