Overview
Many people consider their pets members of the family. When a beloved dog, cat, horse, or other companion animal is nearing end-of-life, the stress of decision-making coupled with the demands of caregiving can easily become overwhelming. Enter the End-of-Life Doula specializing in end of life pet care for companion animals.
What sets UVM apart
Supportive Community
Join a network of practicing doulas through an alumni Facebook group, book clubs, networking events, annual retreats, and quarterly newsletters.
Credibility Through UVM’s College of Medicine
Earn a trusted certification from the first End-of-Life Doula program affiliated with a medical school. Influenced by UVM’s Robert Larner College of Medicine faculty, our program produces graduates recognized for their expertise and trusted by families seeking compassionate care.
Instructors from Diverse Fields
Learn from instructors with advanced degrees and active careers in thanatology, psychology, and counseling. Their combined expertise ensures a well-rounded view of end-of-life care.
Continuously Evolving Curriculum
Our program expands with each session, adding new resources and materials based on student feedback to meet the evolving needs and interests of our community.
Self-Care and Personal Growth
Our program goes beyond professional training. Graduates leave not only ready to care for others but with deeper self-awareness and tools for self-care in end-of-life work. Many describe it as both a doula certification and a journey of self-discovery.
Extensive Professional Network
UVM End-of-Life Doula alumni are affiliated with the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UVM, opening doors to additional learning and networking opportunities. When alumni join the Osher Directory, they gain broader visibility and connection within the integrative health community.
Admissions
Who is this course for?
- Aspiring doulas for companion animals
- End-of-life care practitioners who would like further specialization in companion animals
- Pet hospice and palliative care workers/volunteers
- Veterinary Technicians
- Pet care takers, such as dog walkers and pet sitters
- Spiritual care providers
- Pet owners
Curriculum
Two tracks are available for this program:
- For alumni of UVM’s End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate, you have the option to take the 6-week professional certificate knowing the first two weeks are a review from your certificate training or a 2-week specialization for EoLD alumni focusing on companion animal end-of-life care.
- If you are not an End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate alumni, you must take the 6-week end of life pet care program to acquire skills related to doula essentials and compassionate care.
“When I saw UVM’s companion animal end-of-life doula program, it was the perfect marriage of my interests. I wanted to learn more about how cultures react to the death of both humans and animals but also through that knowledge, I could be useful for others and in my own experiences as a dog owner.”
Emily Wills, Program Alumnae
Schedule of Sessions
Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate for Alumni
| Session | Dates | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Session | 03/10/25 – 04/06/25 | 03/03/25 |
Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate
| Session | Dates | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Session | 01/27/25 – 03/09/25 | 01/20/25 |
*The summer 2024 session is the inaugural session in a change from a 4-week program to a 6-week program
Course descriptions
Dates: January 27, 2025 – March 9, 2025
An optional, asynchronous, self-paced orientation will open one week prior to the course starting to familiarize students with Brightspace. This is 100% optional and will take approximately 1 hour to complete.
The course includes six online modules:
- Week 1: Doula Care and the Human-Animal Bond
- Week 2: Hospice and Palliative Care
- Week 3: Preparing for Death
- Week 4: Self-Care and Grief Support
- Week 5: Complexities of Grief
- Week 6: After Death Care and Memorialization
Please note that Brightspace works best with a desktop or laptop computer. There is limited functionality when accessed by a phone or tablet (e.g., iPads). Please make sure you have access to a desktop and/or laptop computer for the duration of the class.
Weekly Topics
Week 1: Pet Hospice and Palliative Care
- Cultural Trends and Paradigms
- End-of-Life Pet Care
- Quality of Life and Pet Pain
- Euthanasia versus “Natural” Death
- Components of a “Good” Death
- Holistic and Integrative Support
- Veterinarian Stress and Burnout
Week 2: After-Death Options and Support
- Special Considerations: Horses and Exotic Pets
- After-Death Decisions
- Mourning and Bereavement Support
- Children’s Grief
- Memorializing a Pet
Free, Bonus Modules
- Doula Bag, Visit Ideas/Activities
- The Emerging End-of-Life Doula Career (Meetings, Contracts, Business Considerations)
- Role and Scope Revisited
Technology Requirements
We recommend using a browser other than Internet Explorer with our online learning system, Blackboard. Firefox, Google Chrome, or other browsers tend to work more effectively with Blackboard. It’s very important to note that Blackboard will only work with a desktop or laptop computer. It is not designed to be used with phones or tablets (e.g., iPads), so please make sure you have access to a desktop and/or laptop computer for the duration of the class.
Download Sample Syllabus
(PDF, open ins a new window)
“I believe it’s an important aspect for veterinary technicians and veterinary receptionists to understand the role of a doula because they are on the front lines of many practices. They’re talking to clients about their emotions and loss. I could see how this class could help all of those in the veterinary profession.”
Ken Gorczyca, Program Alumni and Instructor
Student Stories
“I am very grateful to have found and done this course. The instructor and facilitator modeled the right kind of behavior and approach which was helpful in applying the theories of doulaship. I also think the course just made me an overall better person!”
Leslie Harris, Program Alumnae
Instructors
Program Lead & Instructors
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More InfoFrances Pope, LPC/S, LAC, LCMHC
End-of-Life Doula Program Lead
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More InfoSummer Brooks
Registered Veterinary Technician
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More InfoGreg Brown
End-of-Life Doula Instructor
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More InfoHeather Caulfield Mills
End-of-Life Doula Instructor
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More InfoTessa Cone
End-of-Life Doula Instructor
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More InfoMatilda Garrido, CT, MS, MSB
End of Life Doula Instructor
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More InfoKen Gorczyca
DVM (he/his/his)
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More InfoSusan McMillan
DVM, JD, Owner of Old North End Veterinary Clinic and Vet to Pet Mobile Veterinary Service
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More InfoAngela Shook
End-of-Life Doula Instructor
Featured Presenters & Contributors
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More InfoRobert E. Gramling, MD
Holly & Bob Miller Chair in Palliative Medicine Division Chief, Palliative Medicine Physician
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More InfoMichelle Acciavatti, M.S.
End-of-Life Specialist at Ending Well
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More InfoFrancesca Arnoldy
(EMERITUS) FOUNDING LEAD INSTRUCTOR
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More InfoKat Arnoldy
Energy Medicine Practitioner and Doula
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More InfoChelsea Chalfant, BSN, OCN, CHPN
Nurse, UVM Health Network Home Health and Hospice
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More InfoMary Beth Daniels, MDiv
Spiritual Counselor, Celebrant, Animal Therapist, Healer, EOL Doula
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More InfoKen Dolan-Del Vecchio
LMFT, SPHR, Family Therapist and Author
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More InfoCaroline Horn
Veterinarian and Anesthesiologist’s Assistant
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More InfoEileen Maher
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More InfoCraig Phillips
Death Doula
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More InfoKathleen Scacciaferro
Healing Touch Practitioner; UVM College of Nursing Lecturer
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More InfoJamie Shaw
Canine Behaviorist and Ethologist
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More InfoMarta Shoman
Registered Psychotherapist, Certified Nursing Assistant
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More InfoMolly Witters
VMD
Scholarship
UVM Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Scholarship
The scholarship for Spring/Summer 2025 is closed. The scholarship for fall 2025 will open April 2025.
The End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate program supports the development and entry into the Doula profession of more individuals who, by their background, work, studies, and/or service endeavors, increase, support and demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The goal of this scholarship is to broaden the reach of doulas and aspiring doulas to provide culturally-affirming EOL care within more communities. The scholarship covers the entire cost of the End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate course of your choice.
- End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate
- Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate (6-week course)
- Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate for Alumni (4-week course for UVM End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate graduates)
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – must meet all three:
- Financial need – you must certify that you have income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) by household size. Please refer to the table below to check your financial eligibility (for audit purposes, UVM reserves the right to request additional information to verify income. Please refer to the table below for federal poverty guidelines)
- An Individual who, by their background or through their work, studies, and/or service endeavors, increases or supports diversity, equity and inclusion
- A commitment to furthering social justice through End-of-Life or Companion Animal doula work.
At this time, the scholarship is only open to current US residents.
| Persons in family/household | Annual Household Income (300% of the federal poverty guidelines) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $40,770 |
| 2 | $54,930 |
| 3 | $69,090 |
| 4 | $83,250 |
| 5 | $97,410 |
| 6 | $111,570 |
| 7 | $125,730 |
| 8 | $139,890 |
| For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $14,160 for each additional person | |
Group Registration Offer – 15% Discount
We are excited to offer a 15% discount for group registrations of 10 or more participants from the same organization. This is a great opportunity to upskill your team while saving on training costs!
How it works:
- Register 10 or more participants from the same organization to receive a 15% discount on the total course fee. The discounted fee is $760.75 per student.
- All participants must be registered together under the same organization to qualify for the discount.
Next steps:
- Please email a purchase order to PACEFinance@uvm.edu for your group registration with a list of the students to register, including email addresses.
- Once we receive the purchase order, we will issue an invoice for payment.
- Please mail check payment to UVM PACE, 23 Mansfield Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401.
- Once payment is made, you will receive an employer discount code to share with your employees so they can self-register for the course. The discount code will be limited to the number of paid students.
- Please submit a new purchase order to add additional students.
Please note:
- No refunds will be issued once payment is completed.
- Students will be placed into different class sections if no specific request for placement is made
FAQ
Two tracks are available for this program:
- If you are an End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate alumni, you have the option to take the 6-week course or you may take the 2-week alumni course specialization focusing on companion animal end-of-life care.
- If you are not an End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate alumni, you must take the 6-week program to acquire skills related to doula essentials and compassionate care.
The 6-week certificate course costs $895. The alumni 4-week course costs $600. A scholarship is available via the application information above. Learn about additional options for discounts, grants, loans, scholarships, and more on our tuition and financial aid page.
No. The one required reading book for this course, Saying Good-Bye to Your Beloved Pet by Dana Durrance, is available as a free download from within the course.
No. Non-credit courses do not currently qualify for tuition remission.
No, we do not have payment plans, you must pay in full by credit card when you register.
If you need to cancel your attendance, you must notify us via email at learn@uvm.edu or call us at (802) 656-2085 at least three business days prior to the start date of the course to receive a full refund, less a $25 cancellation fee. If a medical condition necessitates cancellation/withdrawal (documentation provided), this will be reviewed by our Studies Committee for any type of refund.
End-of-Life Doulas specializing in animal companion care complement the work provided by palliative and hospice care for pets provided by veterinarians. Doulas support animals and their owners with compassionate care in a number of ways, including emotional and informational support during this difficult time.
There is no specific coursework required for this certificate. Primarily, we want you to have a deep commitment to providing compassionate care for animals who are dying.
Upon successful completion of this course, learners will have the skillset and mindset to offer doula services to families and owners who are experiencing end-of-life care for their companion animals. For individuals offering end-of-life doula care for humans, these new skills will nicely complement the work they are already doing and they will be able offer additional services to clients surrounding companion animals. Individuals already working in the pet care industry will be equipped with the skills to better support clients during end-of-life care of their beloved pets.
You will be assessed on your participation in the discussion boards, completion of assignments, and comprehension of the course material. In order to receive an electronic Certificate of Completion, students must receive a 70% or better in the course. Because this is a non-credit professional program, there is no transcript.
- Log in to your Credly account and locate the badge you’d like the certificate for on your Credly Dashboard.
- Click into the badge and select “Share” at the top of the page. Here you’ll notice several share options.
- Select the tab with the “printer” icon and select “Download PDF.”
- You can choose to print the downloaded PDF for a printable copy of your certificate.
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Session 1: The Role and Scope of an End-of-Life Doula
- Session 2: Self-Care
- Session 3: Ask a Doula
Students spend about 7 to 10 hours per week on the coursework. Optional orientation is offered the week before the program starts and it takes approximately one hour to complete.
Yes. Our certificate is 100% online. Please note that class materials are in English.
We recommend using a browser other than Internet Explorer with our Brightspace online learning system. Firefox, Google Chrome, or other browsers tend to work more effectively with Brightspace. It’s very important to note that Brightspace will only work with a desktop or laptop computer. It is not designed to be used with phones or tablets (e.g., iPads), so please make sure you have access to a desktop and/or laptop computer for the duration of the class.
If you are a non-credit student seeking accessibility support, please email access@uvm.edu and the UVM Student Accessibility Services team will be able to assist. In your email, please include that you do not have a 95 number/NetID.
- Have questions about taking an online or distance education course? Visit the Online and Distance Education FAQ page
- Have more basic questions about Professional and Distance Education? Visit our About Us and FAQs pages.
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