Leadership
Heather Burke Bradley
Founder and Executive Director
A native Pittsburgher residing in O’Hara Township, on ancestral land of the Seneca culture, and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Heather has spent the last 28 years serving women as a labor and postpartum doula and formerly founded Pittsburgh Doula Network, a postpartum doula service. In 2016, a dear friend and repeat postpartum client lost her second child, Madeline, to stillbirth. After witnessing the profound loss and grief, her eyes were opened to the silent tragedies women and families were experiencing all around her and how ill-equipped most people, including herself, were in handling it.
“Although I had been a birth worker for 20 years, I realized I knew practically nothing about perinatal loss. A lot of the things I thought I knew were wrong. I wanted to know what quality bereavement care meant, what the research said, and find a way to open up this taboo topic of babies dying because families were suffering greatly- and silently. When someone you care about is going through the worst possible tragedy, you want them to be getting the best help and know how you can be a good friend to someone who has been forever changed by the loss of their baby. I wanted to provide quality care and start with making these births special and help parents create their child’s legacy.”
~ Heather Bradley
The idea of providing free labor and postpartum doula care was her immediate response to serving these families. After devoting time to research and education, Heather became proficient in perinatal loss support and launched Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas in August 2018. She is trained through Resolve Through Sharing as a perinatal bereavement coordinator, a certified Compassionate Bereavement Care provider and a certified Baby Loss Family Advisor /Baby Loss Doula and trainer, having found a wonderful mentor and friend in Sherokee Ilse. She is also certified as a Pregnancy Loss Group Facilitator through The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath and Death. She is very passionate about sharing her knowledge with care providers and doulas so that loss families receive the best care on the most difficult day of their life.
In her free time, she loves planning her next travel adventure with her partner Andrew, spending time with her four children, cooking, baking bread, sewing, reading non-fiction, and gardening.
In the News
The Silent Rebellion by Chris Lewis and Inez Odom
Leaders ask questions. Rebellious leadership is about asking the right ones, such as 'who needs to act' and 'what needs to be done to make this better'. The Silent Rebellion highlights the leaders of those communities and how they make a difference as modern leaders.
Trib-Live, October 5, 2023
Light and Unite in Aspinwall remembers babies on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day [Read article]
CNN, February 28, 2023
Termination for Medical Reasons [Read article]
LIght & Unite 2022
Video of our 4th Annual Light & Unite
Trib-Live, January 28, 2022
Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas embraces parents through loss of a baby. [Read Article]
From the Source Podcast: Episode 13, Season 2: Heather Bradley, Pittsbrugh Bereavement Doulas
Stigma and support — A conversation with a Pittsburgh bereavement doula [Click here to listen.]
Light & Unite 2019
Video of our 1st Annual Light and Unite, October 15, 2019.
Today.com, August 12, 2019
Bereavement doulas help grieving families with pregnancy loss [Read Article]
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 15, 2019
Bereavement doulas support families dealing with the loss of a baby. [Read Article]
Tribune Review, April 4, 2019
O'Hara woman's bereavement doulas group supports families experience loss. [Read Article]
Board of Directors
Sara Jefferson, President
Sara is a native of Northwest Pennsylvania and a graduate of Mansfield University. After a decade of living in Denver, she moved to the Pittsburgh area in 2014, bringing with her a professional background in marketing communications and photography.
Sara has seen the heartbreak of pregnancy and infant loss first-hand, having experienced two losses between the birth of her second and third living children. In addition, she has witnessed numerous close friends and family members go through tragic losses of their own. When Sara discovered Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas, she knew she had found her calling and needed to get involved. She began shadowing Heather Bradley as a photographer in 2022 and completed her doula training six months later.
Since then, Sara has provided doula services and/or photography to approximately 50 families. She has a special interest in the grieving process and continuously participates in additional education and training to provide the best possible support to PBD families.
Sara resides in Hampton Township with her husband, three sons, a dog, and two rabbits.
Marcy Henry, Secretary
A former Pennsylvanian turned Ohioan who now calls East Palestine home. Marcy is a mama bear to her darling son Archer and beloved daughter Madeline (who watches over them from the stars). Marcy is on a mission to support, educate, and uplift other loss parents.
When she's not busy being Supermom or working her 9-5, you can find Marcy crafting heartfelt memorial keepsakes for grieving families through her Etsy Shop.
This loving wife and boy mom treasures quiet nights at home with her husband, son, and cat Chunk and fun-filled getaways to Pigeon Forge with family. Marcy is one-of-a-kind - a passionate advocate driven by the unbreakable bonds of motherhood.
Maizee Devlin, MSW, LCSW
Maizee is a Pittsburgh native who is a passionate professional with a dual career as a certified doula and a licensed clinical social worker. She received both her bachelor’s degree and Master's in Social Work with a Certificate in Integrated Healthcare from the University of Pittsburgh.
Maizee has experience working in different healthcare settings as a social worker, ranging from pediatric inpatient settings, substance use programs, and outpatient obstetric and gynecological care clinics.
After becoming a mother herself, her drive to get back to work in the maternal health field grew but in a different capacity than before. Wanting to support families in a more hands-on, involved role, she became a certified doula through Masters of Maternity in the fall of 2023. In late 2023, she opened Mpower Mental Health LLC, a mental health private practice focused primarily on maternal health and women’s issues. Maizee is very passionate about the field of social work and enjoys being an adjunct faculty member at the Community College of Allegheny County, teaching future social workers.In her free time, she likes to do CrossFit, spend time with family, and be outside.
Jared Wilkerson
Hailing from Sussex, New Jersey, Jared is one of the many fathers who have been supported by the Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas and one of the first families served by the organization when his daughter was born still in 2018. He looks forward to giving back to an organization that helps so many on their most difficult day.
Jared is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College, where he holds a Bachelor of Science double majoring in Computer Science and German. While studying overseas in Cologne, Germany, he met his wife, Holly, who graduated from the same college and is a dual-certified German and SEL teacher in Latrobe, PA. Together, they have two living children: Logan, who is 8, and Marlena, who is 3, and live in Greensburg, PA. Jared currently works as a manager of global engineering for Red Hat. Jared enjoys settling in with a good book, roasting coffee, watching the latest and greatest in sci-fi, and upgrading his Jeep Gladiator for future overlanding adventures.
Aaron Kolko, Treasurer
Aaron is a Pittsburgh native and is the father of Carson (Age 2) and Christopher, who was stillborn at 19 weeks. Aaron and his wife Christy experienced firsthand the incredible support from the Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas.
Aaron is a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School and Bucknell University and is a partner in the Transaction Advisory Services practice with CohnReznick, LLP. Aaron lives in the North Hills and is passionate about increasing exposure and support for pregnancy loss organizations. Aaron also enjoys watching and playing sports, traveling, and visiting new restaurants, breweries, and distilleries.
Elisa Bushman, MD
Elisa is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician with a specialty in perinatal loss, on faculty at West Penn Hospital. She got her BA at Brigham Young University, her MD and did her residency at the University of Utah, and completed fellowship training at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Elisa is passionate about reproductive rights and justice, including compassionate care for pregnancy loss of all types.
In her free time, Elisa is a mom of four, and loves to do art with her kids, travel with her family, and be outside. While Elisa has not personally experienced infant loss she has cared for countless families who have allowed her the honor of walking with them through their journey of pregnancy and infant loss.
Audrey Wrobel
Originally from Eastern Pennsylvania, Audrey moved to Pittsburgh nearly a decade ago to pursue her Master’s in Social Work with a Certificate in Integrated Healthcare from the University of Pittsburgh. She is now a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience in maternal healthcare settings. Audrey had the privilege of establishing the perinatal bereavement program at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, where she provides both inpatient and long-term outpatient support to families experiencing pregnancy loss. Additionally, she practices as a therapist at My Wellness Center, specializing in perinatal loss and maternal mental health.
Audrey is deeply committed to offering compassionate, comprehensive, and sensitive care to vulnerable populations, and she feels honored to accompany individuals on their journeys - especially during their most challenging moments.
Outside of work, Audrey and her husband love to travel whenever they can. Their most memorable adventure was a trip to New Zealand, where they enjoyed stunning beaches, hiking, and breathtaking scenery. When they’re not exploring new places, Audrey enjoys walking or running on Pittsburgh’s trails, discovering new breakfast spots and coffee shops, or cozying up at home with her two cats, Butters and Ollie.
Advisory Committee
Julie McKechnie, CNM
As a Pittsburgh native and women’s health care provider, Julie is excited and honored to support the Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas Organization.
She currently works as a Director and full-scope Certified Nurse Midwife at the regionally well-known Midwives at Magee practice at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Julie knows first hand the importance of doulas' support in serving women and families in bereavement. Her interest in Women’s Studies was piqued at the University of Wisconsin - Madison for her Bachelor’s in Science. After moving back to Pittsburgh, she attended the Shadyside School of Nursing of UPMC and has been at Magee in women’s’ health arena ever since. She pursued her Masters in Nursing at Frontier Nursing University and was certified in Midwifery while balancing working full time and also starting a family. Julie has been a midwife since 2010. She loves working with a range of women and families, including underserved and immigrant populations and those dealing with medically complicated complicated or difficult mental, physical, and social issues.
She has two spunky daughters and a hardworking, loving husband and lives in the Fox Chapel area. In her spare time, Julie loves to spend time in her kitchen, cooking and baking. She relieves stress with yoga and being outdoors and enjoys needlepoint crafts and reading.
Jean Stone, BSN
Jean Stone is an obstetrical and newborn nurse at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and has a B.S. in Quantitative Business Analysis from Penn State University, an A.S. in Nursing from Community College of Allegheny County and B.S.N. at Penn State.
In 2012, after a career as a systems analyst, she went to nursing school with the express purpose of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. She found her dream job and has the privilege of taking care of women and babies before, during, and after delivery. Jean discovered along the way that she has a special affinity for women and families experiencing high-risk pregnancy complications and loss. She is honored to be on the board of Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas.
Jean lives in Aspinwall, PA with her husband, Bruce, and three daughters who make her proud every day.
Grace P. Ferguson, MD, MPH
Grace is an obstetrician/gynecologist with a specialty in Family Planning, on faculty at West Penn Hospital. She got her BA at Johns Hopkins University, her MD at Jefferson Medical College and completed her residency and fellowship training at UPMC Magee Womens Hospital. She received her Masters in Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Grace is passionate about reproductive rights and justice, including compassionate care of pregnancy loss of all types.
In her free time, Grace is a Crossfitter, loves to cook and eat, travel with her husband, cuddle with her dogs. Grace is also a bereaved parent of her stillborn son, Maeby, born in October 2018. Recently, Grace gave birth to her daughter, Lyra, in October 2020!
In the News
State Regulatory Waivers That Helped Hospitals, Health Care Providers During Pandemic Set To Expire
An obstetrician-gynecologist explains why a new bereavement leave policy for city employees will help those facing pregnancy loss [Click here to listen.]
Kristin L. Hauman, LFC
Kristin is a licensed funeral director who is passionate about offering care and support to bereaved families, offering her professional advice and services to Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas from day one. In addition to owning a conventional funeral home, she founded Natural Funeral Company in 2014 to provide support and education for home funerals. As a strong advocate for choices in death care, Kristin feels honored to partner with Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas in their Hugs at Home program as a co-founder.
Kristin is a native of Butler County and has a BA in Philosophy and Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh. She lives in Verona with her partner, Charlie, two dogs, and an active toddler. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, beekeeping and creative projects.
Andrew Eames
A transplant from Guildford, England, and alumnus of Cambridge University, Andrew brings the perspective of a father’s loss. Employed at Google for the past 10 years as a senior engineer keeps him in front of a computer all day, but he takes every opportunity to hike in the woods, wander looking for geocaches, play bridge, and bake bread.
"In modern society, so many are disconnected from experiencing the power of life’s most intense thresholds, the power of birth and death. So many women never witness childbirth until it is directly upon them, until they themselves are in labor. Death, like, birth, is often cordoned off into anonymous hospital rooms. Yet much wisdom exists in directly witnessing the transformative energies present in these thresholds."
– Amy Wright Glenn