Critical Connections: Cardio-Renal Challenge

Project Overview – From Complex Science to Learning through play

Role: Lead Game Designer & Storyline Developer
(Timeline: 3 months | Tools: Articulate Storyline, Envato Elements, Adobe Creative Suite)

Merck sought an engaging way to help physicians reinforce their understanding of the cardio-renal connection and the role of preventative treatments in reducing thrombotic cardiovascular events. Traditional learning modules weren’t driving engagement, so the challenge was to transform complex medical science into a game-based learning experience that physicians would genuinely enjoy replaying.

Partnering with a prominent L&D firm, I led the game design, interaction architecture, and Storyline development, creating a three-level board-game-style eLearning module where learners “treat” virtual patients through informed clinical decisions. Designed for doctors and prescribers, the experience blends competition, clinical realism, and progressive difficulty to reinforce both recall and reasoning.

The Results

Exceptionally high engagement, multiple replay sessions per learner, and positive qualitative feedback from the field—proof that even expert audiences will play to learn when the design hits the right balance of fun and function.

Project Highlights

  • Game Board Overview – The Journey Begins

    Game Board Overview – The Journey Begins

    Players roll the die to advance through the cardio-renal system, encountering realistic medical challenges along the way. Each tile represents a learning opportunity, reinforcing clinical reasoning through competitive gameplay.

  • Interactive Instructions – Teaching Through Play

    Interactive Instructions – Teaching Through Play

    The onboarding screen introduces learners to the game’s mechanics — scoring, shields, and checkpoints — all designed to make complex medical information approachable. I created these layered tooltips in Storyline to guide learners without overwhelming them.

  • Knowledge Check – Reinforcing Core Concepts

    Knowledge Check – Reinforcing Core Concepts

    This interactive question challenges doctors to identify thrombotic risk factors in ESKD patients. Immediate feedback and point rewards transform traditional quiz items into confidence-building moments of mastery.

  • Shield Power-Up – Learning Through Reward

    Shield Power-Up – Learning Through Reward

    Earning a “Preventative Medication Shield” reinforces the protective role of proper treatment in preventing thrombotic events. This mechanic turns abstract pharmacological knowledge into an intuitive, visual concept.

  • Game Progression – Health and Risk Visualization

    Game Progression – Health and Risk Visualization

    The dynamic board reflects player health and risk status, offering instant visual feedback on performance. I developed this logic using Storyline’s variable tracking to simulate real-time patient outcomes.

  • Patient Case Introduction – Scenario Immersion

    Patient Case Introduction – Scenario Immersion

    Learners meet “JF,” a patient with suspected chronic kidney disease, presented through a detailed patient chart. This scenario grounds the gameplay in authentic clinical decision-making, bridging theory and practice.

  • Clinical Decision Dialogue – Applying Medical Judgment

    Clinical Decision Dialogue – Applying Medical Judgment

    Learners interact with virtual colleagues to make diagnostic and treatment decisions based on KDIGO guidelines. This conversational interface promotes critical thinking and mirrors real-world collaboration.

  • Lab Results Screen – Data Interpretation in Context

    Lab Results Screen – Data Interpretation in Context

    Players review patient lab results and interpret indicators of kidney function and cardiovascular risk. These visuals simulate the analytical steps doctors take daily, reinforcing clinical reasoning through data.

  • Scenario Completion – Meaningful Feedback

    Scenario Completion – Meaningful Feedback

    Completion screens celebrate learner success and reinforce accurate decision-making. The gamified structure encourages replayability and continuous improvement as players strive for perfect scores.

  • Level Checkpoint – Progression With Purpose

    Level Checkpoint – Progression With Purpose

    Each level checkpoint ensures mastery before advancement, reinforcing both confidence and competence. I built this structure to support spaced learning — each stage representing deeper retention of cardio-renal concepts.

  • Level Complete – Celebrating Knowledge Mastery

    Level Complete – Celebrating Knowledge Mastery

    Upon completing Level 1, learners earn a digital trophy symbolizing their mastery of the Chronic Kidney Disease process. The progression system gives learners a tangible sense of accomplishment and motivates continued engagement through later stages.

  • Level Progression – A Three-Stage Learning Journey

    Level Progression – A Three-Stage Learning Journey

    The experience unfolds across three progressively challenging levels, each addressing a new layer of the cardio-renal connection, from chronic kidney disease to coagulation and anticoagulation. This structured progression keeps learners engaged as they advance, mirroring how medical understanding deepens with practice and experience.

  • Adaptive Challenge – Increasing Difficulty and Replayability

    Adaptive Challenge – Increasing Difficulty and Replayability

    Each level introduces unique visual themes, mechanics, and question types that escalate in complexity to test deeper comprehension. A high-score leaderboard encourages competition and replayability, motivating doctors to refine their performance while reinforcing retention through repeated play.

Key Takeaways
Designing for Depth, Challenge, and Replayability

Impact:
The Cardio-Renal Challenge proved that even complex clinical education can feel exciting and immersive when grounded in good design. The game achieved high completion rates, repeated playthroughs, and strong qualitative feedback from Merck stakeholders and learners alike—an uncommon combination in medical eLearning.


Lessons Learned:
Integrating game mechanics with serious content required careful calibration between engagement and accuracy. I learned that when learners feel agency and risk in the experience—through health meters, shields, and level checkpoints—they naturally retain more and return for more.


Strengths Demonstrated:
This project showcases my ability to translate highly technical medical content into interactive, emotionally resonant learning experiences. It highlights strengths in game design logic, Storyline development, and visual storytelling, as well as cross-functional collaboration with instructional writers and creative directors to deliver measurable engagement outcomes.


Reflection:
What began as a simple “interactive quiz” evolved into a scalable learning framework—one that can be re-skinned or expanded for future Merck training initiatives. It reinforced my belief that learning doesn’t need to feel like training when designed with narrative, feedback, and play in mind.