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
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
- 3,000+ Certified 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.
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 a certified end-of-life specialist with practical tools and insights to enhance your care for pediatric patients and families.
Curriculum
Specialized Certificate in Pediatric End-of-Life Care
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.
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
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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Frances Pope, LPC/S, LAC, LCMHC
End-of-Life Doula Program Lead
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Laura 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.
FAQ
Learn about options for discounts, grants, loans, scholarships, and more on our tuition and financial aid page.
The textbook for this course will be determined soon.
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.
You have the goal; we can help you achieve it
We are dedicated to helping you access UVM. It is our role to get to know your experience and goals, assist you in choosing courses, guide you through registration, and serve as your resource throughout your time at UVM.
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