Mobile Simulation showcased at CIPES Symposium

The UAB Mobile Simulation team highlighted its efforts to expand healthcare education in underserved communities during the 2026 Center for Interprofessional Education and Simulation (CIPES) Symposium. 

This year’s symposium theme, “Interprofessionalism on Wheels: Reaching Patients in the Community Through Innovation,” focused on current and emerging interprofessional programs across UAB and the broader community. A keynote presentation examining the state of rural health in Alabama underscored the importance of innovative approaches to improving healthcare access and outcomes. 

As part of the event, the mobile simulation team presented a breakout session showcasing how high-fidelity simulation training is delivered directly to healthcare professionals in rural Alabama. 

“We got to stand in front of a room of simulation colleagues and healthcare professionals and walk through what mobile simulation looks like for rural Alabama—the access gaps, the stakes and what it takes to bring high-fidelity training to communities that would otherwise go without it,” mobile simulation coordinator Mercedees Willis, DNP, said.  

The presentation explored challenges related to healthcare access, the value of simulation-based education in community settings and the logistics involved in bringing advanced training resources to areas that may otherwise have limited opportunities. 

Attendees also participated in a live demonstration of the team’s obstetric emergency simulation program, providing an inside look at how mobile simulation can help prepare healthcare teams for high-risk, low-frequency clinical events. The session was delivered alongside other programs utilizing mobile units to support education and outreach efforts across the region. 

The presentation highlighted the role mobile simulation plays in strengthening clinical readiness, supporting interprofessional collaboration and extending educational resources beyond traditional training environments. By bringing simulation directly to communities, the program continues to support UAB’s mission of improving healthcare through education, innovation and service. 

“It’s one thing to talk about rural health access in the abstract; it’s another to put an audience inside the scenario and let them feel why this work matters,” Willis said. “That’s the moment this program was built for.” 

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.