Virtual Reality Therapy: A New Hope for Chronic Pain and Women’s Health

Virtual Reality Therapy: A New Hope for Chronic Pain and Women’s Health

From Beyond The Paper Gown Podcast by Mitzi Krockover, MD

August 19, 2025 · 48 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the use of virtual reality technology as an innovative approach to managing chronic pain in women's health.

What if your doctor prescribed a virtual reality headset instead of pain medication? In this episode of Beyond the Paper Gown, Mitzi Krockover, MD speaks with Mary Catherine George, PhD, Health Psychologist and Clinical Research Program Director in the Neurology Department at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and founder of Comfort Wave VR. Drawing from her unique path—from opera singer to HIV researcher to entrepreneur—Dr. George shares how she’s developing VR technology to help women manage post-mastectomy pain without opioids. We explore why women often underreport pain, how behavioral medicine can make a difference, and what it takes to bring innovative pain management tools from the lab to patients. Please visit Beyond the Paper Gown (https://www.beyondthepapergown.com/podcasts) to join our community and to learn more about achieving your optimal health. SHOW NOTES: Mitzi Krockover, Founder and CEO, Woman Centered, LLC and Host of Beyond the Paper Gown https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitzikrockover/ Mary Catherine George, PhD - Director Clinical Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

People in this episode

Host: Mitzi Krockover, MD

Guest: Mary Catherine George, PhD

Topics covered

  • virtual reality therapy
  • chronic pain
  • women's health
  • opioid alternatives
  • behavioral medicine
  • pain management

Keywords

  • virtual reality
  • chronic pain
  • women's health
  • opioids
  • pain management
  • behavioral medicine
  • health psychology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Comfort Wave VR, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

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