Grief Support Specialist Program - Continuing Education and Workforce Development

Northern Michigan University is saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Douglas Smith. Doug was the founder of the Grief Support Specialist Program, and Northern Michigan University Continuing Education and Workforce Development department is committed to continuing his legacy. To ensure the program's continuation, Doug had recorded all training sessions prior to his passing, and the Continuing Education and Workforce Development department is honored to share his work. Doug was an exceptional individual with an extraordinary gift for storytelling and an unwavering passion for sharing his knowledge to support those who are grieving. He will be greatly missed by the many lives he encountered. 

Doug's full obituary can be viewed here. 

Douglas C. Smith M.Div., MA, MS - Lead Instructor

Douglas C. Smith held three master's degrees in different healthcare disciplines (M.Div., MA, MS), providing him with a truly holistic approach to healthcare. He most recently served as the lead instructor in the University of Wisconsin's Grief Support Specialist Certificate program. Prior to this, he trained social workers, psychotherapists, counselors, nurses, chaplains, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in meeting the various needs of the dying and the grieving. He conducted trainings/workshops in all 50 states and all the provinces in Canada and authored eight books on these subjects. In addition to working for several hospices in multiple capacities throughout his career, he had significant personal experience with grief, having lost his parents, a brother, and two daughters. He also spent an extended period as a patient in a mental hospital. Doug lived with his partner Tara (a mosaic artist) in Lancaster, WV.

“We’ll say goodnight here and good morning up there”- John Rice

Dr. Yan Zhao Ciupak is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Northern Michigan University.  She developed the first MSW and Sociology course on Death, Dying, and Bereavement at Northern Michigan University and co-founded the Grief Support Specialist program. She has an extensive list of national and international publications and speeches to her credit. She was interviewed on TV, radio, and other platforms and given academic talks and workshops about death, dying, and grief. As a Grief Support Specialist, a certified Yoga Instructor, and a meditation practitioner, she advocates for mindfulness-based integrative pedagogies and care. Her most recent book <Supporting the Dying and Grieving: Principles, Tools, and Cases> will be published by Springer Publishing Company in 2025.

Caroline has been a hospice grief group facilitator, a leader of children bereavement camp, and a researcher for subjective wellbeing in the Global Health field. She has ample of experience working with diverse populations who face all sorts of loss – children losing parents and their home, older adults losing their spouses and/or children, and refugees losing their family members and homeland. Caroline has worked with people from all walks of life and in different parts of the world, such as Hong Kong, China, the U.K., Canada, India, and the U.S. She has also been an advocate for children and families from multicultural populations at court in Minnesota.

Caroline Cheng earned a Doctorate in Global Health and Development, specializing the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers; a Master’s Degree in Social Work; and a postgraduate certificate in Education. She is currently teaching various Social Work Courses at the Northern Michigan University as an assistant professor. Her research interests and practice experiences include health and well-being, trauma and coping mechanisms, human rights advocacy, spirituality social work, holistic healing, child protection, and migration. She is actively working on global collaborations and involved in research projects relating to political asylum seeking and trauma, as well as the impact of Covid-19 on wellbeing. She has published a few articles on various topics, such as the impact of social connections on subjective wellbeing.

Molly Tomony MA, ATR-BC, LPC is a board-certified, registered Art Therapist and licensed professional counselor. She has worked at hospice, Gilda's Club and Rainbow Project providing grief groups for children and teens who are grieving or have experienced trauma. Molly currently coordinates the Art Therapy program at Edgewood College in Madison, WI. She understands the power of art to express feelings when words are not enough. Witnessing young people use art to transform pain and anger into insight and growth has fueled her to continue this work for over 25 years. In her free time, she likes to paint and spend time outdoors with her family. 

Dr. Mark helps people who have suffered traumatic loss and complicated or prolonged grief through individual sessions provided in person in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or via telehealth anywhere in the US. 

In addition to working with individuals, Dr. Mark serves people experiencing a wide variety of losses through virtual and in-person groups. Topics addressed include supporting parents following loss of a child due to illness, suicide, trauma, miscarriage, or stillbirth; and spouses or families of those suffering traumatic brain injury or life-changing illnesses such as ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, or other dementias. 

Dr. Mark works with families, congregations, and communities in the face of tragedy from accidents, shootings, natural disasters, and suicide. He is available for speaking engagements at universities, educational events, and community settings. He provides consultation to physicians, attorneys, pastors, teachers, and church workers as they support their people through loss and grief.