Yan Z. Ciupak

Yan Z. Ciupak, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Northern Michigan University. She developed the university’s first sociology and master of social work course on death, dying, and grief. She co-founded the Grief Support Specialist certificate program, endorsed by the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the Department of Education, the National Association for Social Workers, and other professional associations. The U.S. National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID) awarded her the title “Diversity Scholar” in recognition of her contribution to institutional diversity. Her extensive portfolio includes national and international publications, academic presentations, media appearances, and keynote speeches. She is known for her integrative and multicultural approach to death and grief education. In addition to her academic endeavors, Dr. Ciupak is a meditation teacher and certified yoga instructor. She advocates for mindfulness-based contemplative practices to foster a holistic and compassionate culture.

Douglas C. Smith had master’s degrees in three different healthcare disciplines (M.Div., MA, MS), giving him a holistic approach to healthcare. He was a lead instructor at Northern Michigan University’s Grief Support Specialist Certificate program. Before that, he was a dynamic trainer for social workers, psychotherapists, counselors, nurses, chaplains, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in meeting the various needs of dying and grieving, training, and workshops in all fifty states and all provinces in Canada. He authored eight books on those subjects and numerous articles. He is the author of Caregiving: Hospice-Proven Techniques for Healing Body and Soul (2004 Reprint by Wiley and 1997 by Macmillan) and The Tao of Dying (1994 by Caring Publications). In addition to working for several hospices in multiple capacities throughout his career, he also had much personal experience in grieving, having lost his parents, a brother, and two daughters to death.