UAB Clinical Simulation recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review

UAB Clinical Simulation has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s “Simulation and Education Programs to Know for 2026” list, recognizing organizations across the country that are strengthening the health care workforce and improving patient outcomes through innovative training and education.

The Becker’s list highlights hospitals and health systems that use advanced simulation programs to help clinicians and trainees develop critical skills in safe, controlled environments before applying them in real patient care settings.

Clinical Simulation operates under a “sim first” philosophy that prioritizes patient safety by ensuring care teams have the opportunity to practice, refine and collaborate in realistic environments without risk of harm to patients. The program embeds simulation directly into clinical practice and quality improvement initiatives rather than operating as a stand-alone training function.

Recent achievements include expanding a simulation training model with 193 trained facilitators embedding simulation into clinical education across the health system, helping teams practice real-world scenarios, identify risks and improve care before problems reach patients. In summer 2025, the program also worked with faculty on an American Heart Association–funded pilot in Birmingham to understand how 911 dispatchers give CPR instructions and encourage faster, more effective bystander response to cardiac arrest.

The program also expanded its iSim platform with augmented, screen-based and virtual reality simulations, added VR headsets to its equipment loan program to increase access to immersive training, and created a leadership communication simulation to help leaders build environments where team members feel psychologically safe speaking up about safety concerns.

 “This recognition reflects the incredible commitment across UAB Medicine to continually improve how we prepare our teams to deliver safe, high-quality care,” said Marjorie Lee White, M.D., vice president of UAB Clinical Simulation. “By bringing individuals and teams to practice in realistic environments, we can identify risks earlier and ultimately improve outcomes for the patients we serve.”

To view Becker’s “Simulation and Education Programs to Know for 2026” list, visit here.

UAB Medicine’s Clinical Simulation program offers opportunities for individuals and teams across UAB Medicine and beyond to practice before they deliver care. We encourage all who provide and support patient care to “Sim First.” Together, we can put our patients’ safety first.