About

                                          Catherine Durkin Robinson (she/her): Owner and End-of-Life Doula/Educator at Anitya Doula Services in Chicago.

A graduate of the University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Doula program, Catherine is a credentialed, NEDA-proficient member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance. She was also a longtime hospice-trained volunteer and registered pre-need counselor in Florida before relocating to Chicago in July 2022. Her varied career includes 30 years as a political organizer, 10 years of teaching at the high school and college levels, and 10 years as a newspaper columnist. She teaches future doulas at the University of New England and is also an educator and board member at End-of-Life Psychedelic Care. Catherine holds regular classes and workshops in Chicago at St. Joseph’s Hospital, assisted living facilities, DePaul University, and Northwestern University. 

Read her popular death-positive column at https://catherinedurkinrobinson.substack.com/.

She has the following credentials:

• University of South Florida: BA (History and Political Science)
• University of Vermont Medical School: End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate
• University of New England: Adjunct Professor
• End-of-Life Psychedelic Care: Board Member and Educator
• Academy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine, Training for End-of-Life Doulas: Professional Certificate
• Harvard Divinity School’s Center for the Study of World Religions/Tending the Spiritual Cohort for Winter 2025: Participant
• LifePath Hospice and Seasons Hospice: Vigil Volunteer 
• National End-of-Life Doula Alliance: Credentialed NEDA-Proficient EOL Doula
• Segal Funeral Home: Registered Pre-Need Counselor and Family Services Counselor
• Metro Inclusive Health: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Caregiver
• Diaspora Psychedelic Society: End-of-Life Doula and Educator
• Fireside Partners: Humanitarian Emergency Liaison Program (HELP) Team Member
• Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce
• Illinois Continuity of Care: Member
• Anshe Emet Chevra Kadisha: Tahara Volunteer
• Renewal Memory Partners: Dementia-Trained Care Partner
• Chicago Methodist Senior Services: Companion/Caregiver
• Illinois Psychedelic Society: Member
• Compassion & Choices: Advocate and Volunteer
• MAPS/Zendo Project: Trip Sitter
• Howard Brown Health: Volunteer
• Global Doula Project: International EOL Doula Grant Winner
• Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home: Funeral Assistant
• Chicago Hearing Society: ASL Student and Volunteer

In her spare time, Catherine enjoys traveling, yoga, meditation, and running.

She is fully vaccinated, background-checked, and fingerprinted through Howard Brown Health, Seasons Hospice, and Renewable Memory Partners.