Kelly Butler, BScN, MHSc. For more than three decades Kelly has companioned the dying and supported families through loss. She threads clinical expertise, ritual practice, and mindfulness together in this sacred work.
MINDFULNESS INFORMED END OF LIFE CERTIFICATE
In combination with the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, the Mindfulness Informed End of Life Care (MIEOL) certificate explores the applications of mindfulness, mindfulness meditation as it has been integrated into contemporary thanatology (the study of dying and death). This program focuses on general health care as well as hospice, palliative, and general end of life care. Founded on evidence-based science, while drawing upon contemplative traditions, MIEOL cultivates health, wellness and resiliency benefits. These practices are helpful for persons who view themselves or are viewed as seriously or chronically ill, the dying, for family and community participants in care, for inter-professional health care teams, as well as for organizational leaders who support teams attending to suffering.
OUR APPROACH
Cultivating a Practice of Dying
MIEOL proposes that we cultivate a “practice of dying”, while living, so we can existentially prepare for complexities found in life and particularly in end of life care. As such, this is a core approach to end of life care that can be used by everyone, depending on their own need and intention.
40
250+
Trainings & Courses
1,000+
Learners
Years in Practice
SIX COURSE CERTIFICATE
MIEOL Certificate Details
Upon completion you will be awarded a University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Certificate in
Mindfulness Informed End of Life Care
Course One
Course Two
Course Three
Introduction to Mindfulness Informed End of Life Care
Mindful Reflections on
Attending to Suffering
Mindfulness for Compassionate
End of Life Care
Course Four
Course Five
Course Six
Integrating Mindfulness into
Pain Management
Integrating Mindfulness into
End of Life Counselling Models
Practicing Dying
"Beyond the practices and teachings, this program gave me a deeper way of showing up...with patience, with compassion, and with a quiet strength that helps me hold space for both myself and those nearing life’s end."
– Previous Graduate
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES
Instructor Faculty
Kelly Butler
Celina Carter
Dr. Celina Carter, RN, PhD, is a critical qualitative scientist, nurse psychotherapist, and interdisciplinary educator whose 15 years of work bridges palliative care, public health, and the human experience of dying. She has taught in the Mindfulness Informed End-of-Life program at the University of Toronto since 2018 and offers mindfulness-based psychotherapy through her private practice, Present at the End, supporting individuals and caregivers facing serious illness and bereavement. Through her research, clinical practice, and teaching, she advances whole-person care that fosters compassion, connection, and reflection at life’s end.
Michele Chaban
Michele Chaban, MSW, RSW, PhD. Michele Chaban is the founding and former director of the AMM-MIND program at University of Toronto. Before this, she was one of the founders of The Temmy Latner Center for Palliative Care at Mt Sinai Hospital in Toronto where she was the Director of the counselling program for individuals, partners, families and communities. Michele has her PhD in clinical thanatology (Wales) and a master degree in social work and family health care (Toronto).
Karen Ghelani
Dr. Karen Ghelani is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice at the Chrysalis Centre for Psychological and Counselling Services, working with individuals who are suffering from various life events and challenges. Dr. Ghelani was introduced to mindfulness in 2010 and embraced it as an important resource for her own well being after the loss of a child to cancer. Dr. Ghelani has taken courses with Dr. Michele Chaban through the certificate program for Foundations of Applied Mindfulness. She has trained and received certification in MBCT/MBSR, MSC and Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT). For the past four years she has been a facilitator in the Mindfulness Informed End Of Life Care Program with the University of Toronto/School of Continuing Studies.
Ruth Luginbuehl
Ruth Luginbuehl, MD, DTATI, is a retired physician and an artist. She obtained her diploma as a Creative Art Therapist from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute in 2004, where she founded and teaches the course of Medical Art Therapy. Over the past decade, she has completed extensive training in Mindfulness and Mindful Meditation. She offers mindfulness-informed medical Art Therapy in end-of-life care.
Ashley McKenzie
Ashley McKenzie is an end-of-life doula, caregiver, and Executive Director of the NeuroNova Centre. Her work is shaped by lived experience with chronic illness and by accompanying many through the end of life. She is trained in Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain Management (MBCPM™) and holds a certificate in Clinical Hypnosis from the University of Toronto. As a mindfulness coach and mentor, Ashley walks alongside individuals through life’s challenges and transitions, while also guiding new facilitators in cultivating presence, compassion, and resilience. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in Psychology and Contemplative Studies at Harvard, exploring the intersection of science, mindfulness, and the human experience.
Brian Pritchard
Brian has worked for decades with first responders and those living with chronic stress, pain and trauma. He integrates trauma sensitive and trauma informed strategies into all his teachings and provides a flexible framework of compassionate non-judgemental guidance to help build resiliency and assist in self-regulation and calming.
Brian combines his knowledge of ancient wisdom traditions with modern neuroscience to teach a variety of techniques encouraging others to find their own path towards a life of greater happiness, ease and wonder. He also suspects dogs may be some of our finest teachers.
Elaine Smookler
Elaine Smookler is a psychotherapist, mindfulness teacher, writer and comedian. Experiencing the unexpected death of her husband and her mother within a few months of each other confirmed for Elaine that death is real and an inevitable aspect of all of our lives. Elaine was the Inner Wisdom columnist for Mindful Magazine and she writes regularly about grief and other topics for mindful.org Elaine has taught mindfulness through U of T Medical School, and teaches clinical programs including Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness Informed End-of-Life Care (MIEOL) and created and taught the project management course, A Mindful Way Through the Creative Process for University of Toronto, SCS. Elaine is in private practice and offers stress management training at Sickkids hospital, and throughout corporate America.
Nadine Valk
Nadine Valk, MPA, Certified Coach. Nadine is a full-time coach based in Ottawa with over 30 years of experience in health, community, and palliative care. She works closely with health care teams to drive practical, meaningful change in how we care for ourselves and one another.
Hang Zhao
Hang Zhao, PCC, is a professional leadership and grief coach with a focus on end-of-life and grief education. She combines her background in leadership development with training and practice in grief and end of life studies to create compassionate spaces for reflection, healing, and growth.