Overview
Transform Pediatric End-of-Life Care with Compassion and Expertise
Death is universal, yet society often avoids conversations about dying—especially with children.
This avoidance leaves pediatric end-of-life care an underserved area, as many professionals feel unprepared to face the unique emotional and developmental challenges of working with dying children and their families.
UVM’s Pediatric End-of-Life Doula Specialist Certificate provides advanced death doula training, equipping experienced professionals to address this critical gap with confidence and compassion.
This training prepares end-of-life specialists to navigate the emotional, developmental, and systemic complexities of pediatric cases. You’ll learn to guide families through honest conversations, support siblings and caregivers, and offer non-medical advocacy in moments when traditional healthcare systems often fall short.
Graduates of this program will:
- Understand how developmental stages influence a child’s experience of dying.
- Facilitate sensitive discussions about treatment plans, grief, and decision-making, empowering both children and families.
- Navigate complex family dynamics and ensure that siblings, parents, and caregivers feel seen and supported.
- Approach pediatric end-of-life care with confidence and empathy, transforming fear into preparedness.
When you are with a [dying] 14-year-old, a 2-year-old, or a six-month-old, that’s not how nature’s supposed to go. It is sad, and there is nothing good about it. So, it’s really changing your perspective to, ‘What good can I find out of this?’ You learn to stretch your definition of a good visit. Our role as doulas is to help families stretch their definition of a good moment, even in the hardest times.
Laura Delva, End-of-Life Doula Instructor
What sets UVM apart
Supportive Community
Join a network of practicing doulas through an alumni Facebook group, virtual alumni community meetups, networking events, and quarterly newsletters.
Credibility Through UVM
The first End-of-Life Doula program 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 end-of-life care, psychology, and healthcare. 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 education 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.
What sets UVM apart
One of the Few Pediatric-Specific Doula Training
This program addresses a vital gap in end-of-life care by focusing specifically on the needs of terminally ill children and their families.
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.
Real-World Expertise to Prepare You for Practice
Learn from seasoned professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge in pediatric end-of-life care, psychology, and family systems. They’ll share strategies to prepare you for real-world challenges.
Join a Trusted Leader in End-of-Life Doula Training
- 4,000+ End-of-Life Doulas Thousands of professionals have trusted UVM to guide their journey in providing compassionate end-of-life care.
- A Pioneer in Doula Education UVM has set the standard for excellence in end-of-life doula education with programs that consistently fill to capacity.
One of the Few Pediatric-Specific Doula Trainings
This program addresses a vital gap in end-of-life care by focusing specifically on the needs of terminally ill children and their families.
Admissions
Who should register?
This program is designed for professionals with some experience in end-of-life care, including:
- Child life specialists
- Counselors and social workers
- End-of-Life doulas
- Hospice staff
- Nurses and physicians
- Palliative care staff
- Social workers
Expand your expertise as an end-of-life specialist with practical tools and insights to enhance your care for pediatric patients and families.
While this course does not have formal prerequisites, students should have foundational knowledge of end-of-life care. If you are new to this field, we recommend completing UVM’s End-of-Life Doula Certificate first before enrolling.
Curriculum
This four-week online program is designed to provide both practical knowledge and emotional preparation for addressing the unique challenges of pediatric end-of-life care. Each week focuses on a different aspect of working with terminally ill children and their families, using a blend of asynchronous learning, self-reflection exercises, and optional live virtual sessions.
Course topics include advocacy, family dynamics, and specialized skills in pediatric grief counseling and non-medical support.
Schedule of Sessions
Pediatric End-of-Life Doula Specialist Certificate
| Session | Dates | Registration Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Session | 10/20/25 – 11/16/25 | 10/22/25 | Closed |
| Spring Session | 2/23/26 – 3/22/26 | 2/16/26 | Open |
Dates:
February 23 – March 22, 2026 – Register Now!
Each learning module gave me more clarity as to what a ‘doula heart’ means and the impact we will have on others we serve with heart, compassion, love, and dedication.
2024 End-of-Life Doula Program alum
Student Stories
What people are saying about our End-of-Life Doula certificate program
“Absolutely invaluable course. An incredible amount of information was shared. The discussions and assignments brought the information to life. What I learned in this course will serve me well in my work with children and families. Very, very glad that I choose to participate in this course.”
-Holly Hedman, UVM Pediatric End-of-Life Specialist Alumni
“The brilliant design, the kindness and respectfulness of the instructors, the generosity and care of the cohort. These (courses) are curated with so much artfulness and sensitivity. I really appreciate the time and thought that it takes to build a curriculum like this. Many, many thanks.”
-Paris Priore-Kim, Ed. D, UVM Pediatric End-of-Life Specialist Alumni
“The pediatric course offers valuable information and perspective not only on how children cope with their own mortality, but also on family dynamics surrounding child illness and death. Learning how to effectively support a family through this experience and how to work with other professionals involved in the child’s care will expand a doula’s knowledge base as well as their support toolkit.“
-Matilda Garrido, UVM Pediatric End-of-Life Specialist Alumni & Instructor
LIFE CHANGING COURSE. I’m an RN who deals with death and dying, and this course made me realize how little we all know about how to offer peace and comfort.
For me, the most valuable part was the personal work into my own feelings and experiences around death and dying.
I’ve been a floor nurse for four years, an ICU nurse for 10, and a nurse anesthetist for 15. I’ve seen it all and still learned from this course.
Join an 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.
Instructors
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More InfoJulie Raymond-Yakoubian, PhD
End-of-Life Doula Team Lead
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More InfoFrances Pope, LPC/S, LAC, LCMHC
End-of-Life Doula Instructor
-
More InfoLaura Delva, MSW, LCSW
End of Life Doula Instructor
As a caregiver, when you have children of your own, this work can be triggering, and so there’s a different level of skill that’s needed as an end-of-life worker to be able to navigate those feelings of your own.
Laura Delva, MSW, LCSW
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 $510.00 per student.
- All participants must be registered together under the same organization to qualify for the discount.
Next steps:
- Please fill out the Group Registration Interest Form.
- 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
- Students will need to purchase the required textbook, Shelter from the Storm: Caring for a child with a Life-Threatening Condition by Joanne Hilden, M.D. And Daniel R. Tobin, M.D. With Karen Lindsey. Copies of this book can be purchased online or at your local bookstore.
Please email learn@uvm.edu if you have any questions.
FAQ
Learn about options for discounts, grants, loans, scholarships, and more on our tuition and financial aid page.
The required textbook is Shelter from the Storm: Caring for a child with a Life-Threatening Condition by Joanne Hilden, M.D. And Daniel R. Tobin, M.D. With Karen Lindsey.
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 a student needs to cancel their attendance, they must notify us via email at learn@uvm.edu or call us at (802) 656-2085 at least 10 business days prior to the start date of the course to receive a 75% refund. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made after this deadline.
The course is four weeks long. There are four main modules, each spanning one week. Each module starts on Mondays at 9:00 AM ET and ends on Sundays at 11:59 PM ET. To better accommodate students’ work and life schedules, we provide early access to each module on the Friday before the module starts.
Each module, you will be expected to post to the discussion board(s) by Friday and/or Sunday, to complete a short quiz by Sunday, and to complete the corresponding assignment by Sunday.
We estimate that you will dedicate at least 8-10 hours per week for course work, including readings, videos, and related activities (discussions, assignments, and quizzes).
Yes, the program includes optional Zoom sessions:
- Session 1: Wednesday, October 22 at 7:30pm ET
- Session 2: Thursday, November 13 at 7:30pm ET
The optional, ungraded live sessions are not recorded in an effort to foster open and honest communication and to maintain confidentiality. We try to offer the sessions on different days and at different times to accommodate the variety of schedules.
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.
Advising and Student Support
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