MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Faulkner University and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC (HMMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 18, 2026 to establish and fund new training opportunities through Faulkner’s College of Health Sciences.
The signing ceremony formalizes a three-year partnership in which HMMA will contribute $200,000 annually to support Faulkner’s Partnering in Alabama for Training in Healthcare (PATH) program. The agreement begins January 2026 and continues through December 2028.
The PATH partnership program is a statewide initiative led by Faulkner’s College of Health Sciences in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and a diverse network of partners. Its aim is to provide free, high-quality, simulation-based training to healthcare professionals and emergency responders across Alabama. PATH delivers immersive, interprofessional training experiences using a full spectrum of simulation technology including high-fidelity manikins; task trainers; ultrasound systems; virtual reality and other state-of-the-art equipment. In 2025, PATH received $1.2 million in funding through the generous partnership with ADPH, officially launching statewide trainings for public health nurses, public school nurses, emergency responders, the Alabama National Guard and community partners.
“This is a historical event with a public-private, private-private partnership, which is so important and critical for us in impacting healthcare in the state of Alabama and in the surrounding region,” said Faulkner University President Mitch Henry. “What a blessing it is to partner with a wonderful community asset like Hyundai. What you do at Hyundai means so much to so many families in our community. What you do there impacts the world.”
The partnership will support specialized training services provided to HMMA personnel and contractors, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), CPR/AED certification and recertification, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, EMT, continued competency training, advanced trauma simulations and additional professional development offerings.
The partnership aims to strengthen workforce training, healthcare readiness and professional development opportunities in the region.
“We’re fortunate to have strong partnerships with many of the local colleges and universities here in town. These partnerships help strengthen the quality of life in the communities we call home and this new partnership with Faulkner University continues to build on that commitment,” said Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama CEO Mark Rader. “It not only enhances the life-saving skills training of our medical teams and responders at HMMA, but also extends those opportunities to others across the region who serve our families our friends our neighbors and those in public health and school nurses and even the medics in our national guard. So together we are building a stronger, safer and a more resilient Alabama. One that supports the people who care for our communities and helps protect HMMA’s most valuable asset and that’s our team members.”
The Simulation Lab, where the signing took place, is located within the College of Health Sciences and is where the simulation training occurs with Faulkner’s PATH partners. Set up to look like an emergency room with hospital beds and life-like, high-fidelity manikin “patients,” community partners practice advanced medical skills in a safe and controlled environment, ideal to train for different real-life medical emergencies, without risk to actual patients.
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About Faulkner
Faulkner University is a private, Christian university based in Montgomery, Alabama with a mission to provide an education anchored not only by intellect but also character and service. The Faulkner experience aims to educate the whole person. Serving both traditional and non-traditional students, the university is home to six colleges: the Alabama Christian College of Arts and Sciences, the Harris College of Business and Executive Education, the V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies, the College of Education, Faulkner Law and the College of Health Sciences. In addition to its main campus in Montgomery, Faulkner operates extension campuses in Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile along with online degree programs.
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