HONORING A DECADE OF DOULAS
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Excerpts from executive director Douglas Simpson’s speech on December 9, 2025, at INELDA’s 10-year celebration.
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As of today, INELDA has had the privilege of engaging with 9,678—nearly 10,000—human beings that made the choice to learn with us about becoming an end-of-life doula and seeding deathcare within communities throughout the United States and 56 countries across the world.
Many of these doulas have gone on to make significant contributions in the field from education—advocacy—to direct care and support for people everywhere. We honor the support you have given and the voice you have led with in advancing the role of end-of-life doulas.
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Danny began his path on this journey as a nurse. For a time, he worked in the Seashore House Annex at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where many patients had life-limiting diseases.
As a pediatric nurse practitioner at CHOP, he found himself drawn to and bonding with children and their families who had a life-limiting diagnosis. He worked with children who had cystic fibrosis and those on the oncology unit. To better understand how he could support these patients, he took workshops with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Bernie Siegel, and Stephen Levine, early pioneers in end-of-life work.
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When and why did you decided to become and end-of-life doula?
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When I began to look at retirement in 2023.
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IMMERSIVE END-OF-LIFE DOULA TRAINING
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January 8, 2026 to January 11, 2026
THU/FRI 5pm – 9pm ET & SAT/SUN 10am – 7pm ET
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Location: ZOOM
Educator: Wilka Roig
Price: $895 (discounts available for members, students & military)
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2 WEEKENDS END-OF-LIFE DOULA TRAINING
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January 16, 2026 to January 24, 2026
FRI 6pm – 10pm ET & SAT 11am – 8pm ET
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Location: ZOOM
Educator: Marady
Price: $895 (discounts available for members, students & military)
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Celebrating a Decade of Doulas Film
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In celebration of our last decade, we created a short film to share some voices from within our organization, as well as those who have delivered or been supported by end-of-life doula care. With the help of director Mark Hubatsek and editor (and INELDA team member) Marc Changnon, this short film speaks for itself. We invite you to learn more about INELDA’s roots and our future vision, but perhaps most importantly hear from Empath Health doula Mike McGrail, doula Andrews “Bones” Nelson, and her client, Kate Bathras. Additional gratitude to Pastor Corey L. Kennard, who lent his expertise to emphasize the importance of end-of-life doulas.
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HOLIDAYS AND THE MAGNIFIED PRESENCE OF ABSENCE
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I met with a hospice group this week, and as we shared updates about the families we are supporting, the topic of grief during the holidays naturally surfaced. The holiday season brings a unique tenderness. It is a time often associated with joy, tradition, and gathering, yet many of the people we serve are facing profound transitions. For some, this may be their last holiday with loved ones. For others, death has already occurred, and our work now turns toward holding space for the circle of care left behind. As end-of-life doulas, we understand how layered this season can be. The holidays often magnify the presence of absence, stirring memories, unfinished conversations, rituals, and deep longing. In these moments, our role is not only to support the individual who is dying but also to gently guide those who are grieving as they move through a time that can feel both sacred and overwhelming.
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From West Coast to East Coast: New In-Person Trainings!
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We are excited to announce that INELDA will be offering an end-of-life doula training in the Los Angeles area in February, to be followed by a training at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, in April. Looking for an environment to be with others, live and in community? We just launched these two events, so sign up before they are full. Learn more about our Santa Monica training blocks from the Pacific Ocean and our mountain retreat training at the Art of Living.
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Honoring Those Paving the Way
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At our 10-year anniversary celebration, we were honored to acknowledge two significant contributors for their commitments to the end-of-life doula field: Empath Health, accepted by vice president of volunteer engagement Stacy Groff, and death doula Wilka Roig.
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There are many meaningful ways to support INELDA’s work, and every one of them helps expand compassionate end-of-life care. From monthly giving to gifts of stock to one-time donations, your generosity and partnership make our work possible.
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Spring Certification Cohort: Registration Is Open
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Registration opened this past Monday, December 15. INELDA’s certification program is a comprehensive one-year cohort-based program designed to support you through mentorship, peer review, and continuing education, with two cycles that start in either October or April. Founded and guided by INELDA’s core competencies, the certification program engages and applies the INELDA Doula Approach, culminating in the design and practice of the doula’s field specialization of choice.
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We heard your ask and have made it easier for you to pay in installments for doula training. When purchasing end-of-life doula training, there are now multiple payment plan options. This will allow you to parse out your payments in a way that works best for your needs. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. We are always happy to help!
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Virtual Jewish End-of-Life Doula Meetup
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Our friends at the Shomer Collective are hosting a January meetup on Wednesday, January 28, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Explore the tools and resources of Shiva Circle (learn more about Shiva Circle in our January newsletter!). Practice having conversations with families about sitting shiva and deepen your knowledge of Jewish mourning customs.
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Sparking Innovation: Future Models of Care with Dr. Naheed Dosani
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January 28 | WED 7 – 8:30pm ET
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As a palliative care physician and health justice activist, Dr. Naheed Dosani is dedicated to advancing equitable access to health care for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities such as poverty and homelessness. These efforts include founding and leading the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) Program at the Inner City Health Associates in downtown Toronto, serving as the medical director of Kensington Hospice, health equity lead at Kensington Health, health equity expert advisor at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, and palliative care physician at St. Michael’s Hospital at Unity Health Toronto.
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Dr. Naheed Dosani will join us in a conversation around developing unique care model solutions. End-of-life doulas are in positions to act as system changers and create community-driven care that is outside the traditional medical models. This webinar will draw on Dr. Dosani’s own model of PEACH as a prototype that is addressing community needs. Come with the deathcare issues within your own community as a launch point to consider new solutions.
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Dr. Dosani shares his passion for palliative care and health equity with learners as an assistant professor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. As a researcher, he is appointed as an investigator with the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St Michael’s Hospital’s Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, with a special interest in health system innovation and advancing access to equity-oriented care for structurally vulnerable populations. As a health systems leader, he serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Medical Association. Dr. Dosani has received many prestigious honours for his trailblazing work.
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Cost: Free with INELDA Tier 2 & 3 Membership | Tier 1 and Non-members $15
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“In my ‘doula bag,’ I like to keep light snacks, mints, gum for family members, the sponge sticks used to keep mouths moist, a small sound machine, a book with meditations, unscented lotion for hand massage, a small fan, Chapstick. Sometimes it’s client-specific—one client loved the beach, so I brought seashells and a little sand.”
—Beth Wise
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Remembering a Life Conversation Cards
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Remembering a Life, a consumer education initiative created by the National Funeral Directors Association to educate people about the importance of remembering loved ones in meaningful ways after they die, launched a suite of conversation card decks. End-of-life professionals, including end-of-life doulas, hospice professionals, social workers, and grief specialists, can use them to inspire the families they serve to plan meaningful tributes to loved ones and help guide them on their grief journeys.
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How does an end-of-life doula show up for a sudden death?
—Training Participant
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Director of partnerships Loren Talbot: While this question can’t be answered in just a paragraph, an end-of-life doula can play a valuable role in an unexpected death. The doula’s attention shifts from the dying person to those in the circle of care. Loved ones may be shocked, confused, and experiencing trauma responses. A doula applies psychosocial, emotional, spiritual, and practical care. Sudden death can often be chaotic, and a doula can offer a calm presence to those just learning the news. We are able to listen and be physically present for those in the space. Doulas can provide contextualization and meaning-making in the moment and can help to support any rituals or necessary pauses to what may be occurring. They can offer physical presence to someone during a body removal or investigation, or while emergency teams may be focusing on others at the location. They can also capture information and logistics from first responders to relay at a later date.
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The Dance of Attachment in End-of-Life Doula Work
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As end-of-life doulas, we are called to serve at one of the most profound moments in a person’s life. Our work often involves forging deep, meaningful connections—connections that transcend typical caregiving boundaries. Many clients seek us out precisely because they yearn for a more personal, intimate relationship than what might be offered through their medical team. They want someone who listens, holds space, and embodies compassion. And, as doulas, many of us are naturally empathetic, caring individuals—givers who feel called to serve and support others during their final journey.
–Nicole Heidbreder
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End-of-Life Document Access Gets Bipartisan Boost
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The jumble of end-of-life documents can be stressful for loved ones to handle even with doula support—and Congress may be taking action to help. The bipartisan Legacy Act, introduced in October, would support Medicare-certified health care providers in working with a centralized depository of documents that would help patients, families, and providers preserve patient autonomy and honor choices at and for end of life.
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Obituary Study Reveals Social Shifts
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When paying tribute to the deceased in an obituary, we’re documenting not only an individual life but the social values of contemporary society. That’s the takeaway from a study recently published in OMEGA–Journal of Death and Dying of nearly 40,000 United States obituaries.
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Hope for Frontotemporal Dementia
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Delivering “positive topline results” in preventing dementia, a new drug targeting a protein related to dementia has passed a major safety hurdle, taking it one step closer to becoming available to the public.
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by Dr. Thema Bryant, from Homecoming (Tarcher, 2022)
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May you find ease within yourself.
May your body be safe to relax, your mind be safe to flourish, and your spirit be safe to soar.
May you reclaim your breath, voice, gifts, and fire.
May you glory in the sound of your laughter and delight in the beauty of your dance.
May you forgive, accept, and love yourself fully and courageously.
May you recognize and remember yourself no matter what is happening around you.
May you give yourself permission to always come home and find the welcome mat in place.
May you connect with kindred spirits for mutual care along the way.
May the sacredness of your being always take priority over the busyness of your doing.
May you know deep down in your bones that you are lovable and worthy of respect.
May the values of compassion and liberation guide your feet in purposeful living.
May your soul perpetually tell your heart, mind, body, and spirit, ‘Welcome home.’
Let it be so, and so it is.
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© INELDA 2025 International End of Life Doula Association is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that relies on public support to do it’s work.
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