Explore UAB

  • Virtual Poverty Sim

What is the Poverty Simulation?


The Poverty Simulation is an interprofessional learning experience designed to raise awareness of the challenges that individuals may face when living in low-income situations. The simulation experience is housed in Canvas and includes orientation information, access to the virtual simulation, and a link for students to join a live, interprofessional debriefing facilitated by a trained debriefer. The Poverty Simulation is currently a required learning experience for 19 programs across the UAB enterprise.

SimUAB® partners with faculty and staff from the following entities to facilitate the simulation: the UAB College of Arts and Sciences, the UAB Schools of Dentistry, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Optometry, and the UAB Health System.


Please email Dawn Taylor Peterson at dtpeterson@uab.edu if you have questions.

Upcoming Poverty Simulations:

Date Time
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Monday, April 15, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

How do I get involved? 


Dates for the simulation are scheduled 9 to 12 months in advance based on the needs of students who are required to do this simulation as part of their curriculum. Student slots for the simulation typically fill 3 to 6 months in advance. If you are interested in having your students participate in the poverty simulation or in participating as a trained debriefer, please fill out the interest form by clicking on the green button below. Once you have completed the interest form, a member of the OIPS team will respond to you as soon as possible.

If you are a student interested in the poverty simulation, please contact your instructor or department.

Interest Form (Faculty/Staff Only)