“We all want to be seen, known and heard at all stages of life.”
Amy Levine, Visiting Scholar
University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine
International Speaker, Educator, and Author
Amy Lawlor Levine is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing consulting services for over 20 years. Amy’s professional experience includes hospice, palliative care, acute inpatient service and geriatric psychiatry. She is an internationally recognized educator, author, speaker and consultant in the field of aging, serious illness and end-of-life care. She has provided consultation, speaking engagements and created programs in the U.S, Canada and the United Kingdom. She is called upon for guidance by professionals in healthcare, social services, faith based and community organizations caring for individuals facing serious illness and by the individuals and families experiencing the end stage of life.
In 2010, Amy developed the specialized Palliative Care Doula Volunteer Program utilized by major hospitals, to include the Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital and Bellevue Hospital in New York City.
Amy’s work in end of life and serious illness has been recognized in publications such as The New York Times, (London) Financial Times, HuffPost and Medscape. She has been a contributing writer to the Huffington Post on her work with people at the end of life.
Amy has been asked to contribute to multiple publications, including HuffPost Personal launched in 2018 with her essay, I Work With People Facing the End of Their Lives.
Amy’s book Final Wishes, a Journal For Reflections on Life and Guidance for Settling Your Affairs, is a creative guide for individuals at all ages and at all stages of life.
In 2012, Amy established the New York City based end of life volunteer nonprofit organization, The Doula Program to Accompany and Comfort, Inc. During her years as Executive Director, Clinical Director and Director of Education and Training she developed an unique interactive, experiential training to prepare volunteers in their visits with individuals facing serious illness.
Interview with Rev. Matthew Heyd
Amy speaks to Rev. Matthew Heyd from the Church of the Heavenly Rest, NYC, regarding her work in end of life, her new book, and what inspires her to serve in this field.
Amy has provided innumerable talks, workshops and trainings over the years for healthcare and social service professionals. She has presented at various conferences to include, NYU’s 2023 Palliative Care Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State, American Hospital Association and the Capital Care Conference.
She currently co-chairs a hospital based committee of New York City healthcare professionals focused on providing Palliative Care for individuals with serious illness and experiencing homelessness. She has served on the Unbefriended Task Force, a think tank to provide a solution for individual’s without friends or family (a proxy) to voice their health care preferences and end of life wishes.
She holds a Master of Social Work degree and Certificate in Worksite Wellness Programs from New York University. She is a graduate of the Metta Institute’s End Of Life Practitioners Program, studying with Dr. Naomi Rachel Remen and Frank Ostaseski. Amy is a certified Respecting Choices Facilitator for advance care planning.
