Faculty

Virgil Wong creates new technologies to transform human health. He founded Medical Avatar LLC, a mobile health company that makes personalized 3-D digital anatomical bodies to visualize health information in the past, present, and future. As a researcher in medical cognition and intelligent technologies at Columbia University, he studied how time travel simulations of patients' bodies can increase engagement, motivate disease prevention, and improve chronic disease management. Since 2000, he has also been teaching photography, film, and interactive media as a part-time Assistant Professor in The New School's Masters in Media Studies Program. Professor Wong received the Faculty Mentor Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2005.   As a visual artist working with concepts in medicine and technology, Professor Wong has exhibited interactive installations, films, paintings, drawings, and prints in galleries and museums around the world – including the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei, Taiwan; and Deitch Projects in New York City. He produced and co-directed Murmur, a cardiovascular dreamscape film that premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. In the previous year, he received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for an art and medicine exhibition called Corporeal Landscape.   In 1996, Professor Wong founded the Web and Multimedia division at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College. Over 15 years, he defined the Internet strategy for both institutions based on one central principle: informed and engaged patients will help reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve outcomes. As co-chair of Weill Cornell's Clinical & Translational Research Science Center (CTSC) Cross-Institutional Web Portal Working Group, Professor Wong supported researchers in their lifesaving efforts to rapidly develop new treatments for patients in need.   Professor Wong also works as head of digital experience and creative at Element, a company that transforms organizations into digital innovators. His clients include Anthem, City of Hope (part of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network), and Federated Insurance.

2018 “Ease and Ability” exhibition (title is derived by removing the prefix "dis-" from disease and disability to bring a positive perspective to these conditions) in Honolulu, HI, curated by Kóan Jeff Baysa, M.D.   2017 “Arts and the Brain” at the Strathmore Fine Arts mansion in North Bethesda, MD.   2014 “Medical Avatar” at The Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, VA, and the Perspective Gallery of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, curated by Robin Boucher.   2013 “Pulse: Art and Medicine, A Not-So-Clinical Study of Medicine as Inspiration for Art, Creative Processes and Art Forms” at Strathmore Fine Arts in North Bethesda, MD, curated by Harriet Lesser.   2012 “Seeing Ourselves,” exhibition on art and neuroscience at the Center for Photography and the Moving Image in New York, NY, curated by Kóan Jeff Baysa, M.D.   2012 “Portrait of the Artists with Black Glasses" at the Not Festival exhibition at the Dansehallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark, curated by Luis Lara Malvacias.   2011 “Medicine Meets Virtual Reality (MMVR) 18” in Newport Beach, California, curated by Kóan Jeff Baysa, M.D.   2010 “ADHD (Art Diagnostics and Healing Devices)” at the JAUS Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, curated by Kóan Jeff Baysa, M.D.   2009 “2009 Cyberfest: Sonic Self” at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, curated by Anna Frants and Kóan Jeff Baysa, M.D.   2009 “Cardiorobonanoplasty: Billions of Robots Heal the Human Heart,” solo exhibition at the International House gallery in  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, curated by Sean Stoops.   2009 “Medicine Meets Virtual Reality (MMVR) 17,” group exhibition in Long Beach, California, curated by Kóan Jeff Baysa, MD.   2009 “HomeBase IV,” group exhibition at an abandoned medical center in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, curated by Anat Litwin.   2009 “The Immunological Paradox of Pregnancy and the Art of Biomedical Realism,” featured project for an event at the Exit Art gallery in New York City, presented by Irina Aristarkhova, Ph.D.   2009 “A Celebration of the Arts” at the Macy Gallery of Columbia University, curated by Jonathan Lewis.   2008 “RYT Hospital-Dwayne Medical Center”, solo exhibition at John Jay College Gallery, New York City, curated by Mary Ting.   2007 “Geo/Genome”, exhibition at the Puffin Cultural Forum, curated by Tim Blunk.   2007 “HIV Law Project”, group exhibition at Moti Hasson Gallery in New York City, curated by Kóan Jeff Baysa, MD.   2007 “Orion’s Belt: Health, Technology, and Mythology”, group exhibition in Reno, Nevada, curated by Marjorie Vecchio, PhD.   2006 “Metabodies: Medicine and Media”, two artist exhibition at the Elizabeth Stone Harper Gallery, Harper Center for the Arts in Clinton, South Carolina. Presented in collaboration with the Annual Arnold Symposim, “Brave New World: The Effects of Media on Medical Research and Development”.   2006 “The Days of Science and Biotechnology”, group exhibition at the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Curated by Denisa Kera, Center for Global Studies, Charles University, and the International Center for Art and New Technologies.   2005 “Put On Your Blue Genes”, Neue Gesellschaft für bildende Kunst (New Society for Fine Arts) in Berlin, Germany. The exhibition focused on art and biotechnology and includes installations by the Critical Art Ensemble, Symbiotic A / The Tissue Culture and Art Project, Paul Vanouse and others.   2005 Corporeal Self, screened at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (February 18).   2004 “AC (Anatomically Correct)” at the 473 Broadway Gallery in SoHo, New York City. Curated by Kóan Jeff Baysa, MD, curatorial fellow at the Whitney Museum of American Art.   2004 “ReproTech: Building Better Babies” at The New York Academy of Sciences, Gallery of Art and Science, New York City. Curated by Suzanne Anker.   2003 “Gene(isis): Contemporary Art Explores Human Genomics” at The Berkeley Art Museum. Solo exhibition entitled “G-commerce” as part of the larger exhibition, lectures and film series. Curated by Alla Effimova.   2002 “BioVision: In vitro-In vivo” at the World Human Rights Art Festival in Athens, Greece. Featured artist.