Dr. Walter Greenleaf is a leading figure in the medical application of virtual reality, with over 35 years of research at the intersection of neuroscience, immersive technology, and digital health. Beginning in the 1980s as a collaborator with VPL Research, he helped pioneer the use of VR for clinical treatment and rehabilitation, developing early applications for PTSD, stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, addiction, and autism spectrum disorders.

 

At Stanford University, he works as the Neuroscience Clinical Applications Expert with the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab and directs innovation efforts at the Stanford Medical Mixed Reality Center. He has co-founded and advised numerous clinical product companies, including Pear Therapeutics, Abbott Medical, and MindMaze, and chairs the International Virtual Reality Healthcare Association. His work has shaped therapeutic VR design, influenced global healthcare policy, and remains foundational to the clinical integration of XR technologies.