About
Olivia McAnirlin, PhD is a scholar, educator, and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of nature, health, and storytelling. She co-directs the Virtual Reality and Nature Lab at Clemson University, where she is also a Research Assistant Professor in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management department. Dr. McAnirlin holds a PhD in parks, recreation, and tourism management (Clemson University), as well as master’s in kinesiology and health with a focus on sport psychology (Miami University) and a bachelor’s degree in exercise-science (Colby-Sawyer College, building a strong interdisciplinary foundation in qualitative methods, health-focused scholarship, and applied research. Dr. McAnirlin’s research examines the psychological and physiological impacts of both real and virtual nature, with particular emphasis on how virtual nature can support well-being, meaning-making, and connection for people who face barriers or safety concerns with time outdoors. She is especially interested in VR as a storytelling medium and as a tool for translating research into real-world health and care settings. Dr. McAnirlin actively partners with healthcare systems (Bon Secour and Prisma Health), botanical gardens (South Carolina Botanical Gardens and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens), and community organizations (Clemson Downs, Kids in Parks) to co-create nature-based VR experiences. She is the creator of Tandem VRTM, a personalized virtual reality approach, currently being used with patients, caregivers, and clinical partners to support connection and quality of life.
Visit Dr. McAnirlin's Faculty Profile.
How their research is transforming health care
My research transforms health and healthcare by expanding who can access the health benefits of nature through virtual nature interventions and applying these interventions in clinical settings. Through my work in the Virtual Reality and Nature Lab, I examine how immersive virtual nature experiences influence psychological and physiological outcomes, particularly for individuals who face barriers or safety concerns to spending time outdoors. This work is significant because spending time in nature is increasingly recognized as a low-cost, non-pharmacological support for stress reduction, emotional regulation, pain management, and quality of life—yet many people are unable to access outdoor environments when they need them most. By leveraging virtual reality as both a therapeutic medium and a storytelling tool, my research leverages nature–health scholarship into practical, scalable interventions that can be integrated into healthcare systems. A central outcome of this work is Tandem VR, a personalized virtual reality approach currently used with patients, caregivers, and clinical partners in hospice, palliative care, and supportive health contexts. Tandem VR™ prioritizes individual meaning-making and social connection- outcomes that are critical to patient-centered care but often underrepresented in traditional clinical metrics. By partnering directly with healthcare systems, botanical gardens, and community organizations, my research prioritizes co-creation and responsiveness to real-world health needs. Ultimately, this work advances a person-centered model of care that integrates nature, storytelling, and meaning-making as essential components of health.
Health research keywords
Nature-Based Interventions, Virtual Reality, Psychological Well-Being, Nature and Health, Healthcare Technology, Palliative and Hospice Care
