Founder of The International Doulagivers Institute, O'Brien emphasizes the important role of death doulas in our society- a growing cohort of non-medical professionals who offer emotional, physical, and spiritual support during the end of life period. Her teaching model and *Ask A Death Doula* podcast emphasizes preparation, promoting death literacy and advanced planning as critical ingredients for reducing crisis-driven decisions.
As a former oncology nurse, O'Brien's career shifted towards education. She advocates for holistic elder care that prioritizes connection, quality of life, and elders’ wisdom, underscoring the healing power of presence and connection. She calls for reallocating resources from costly funerals to personalized care, while cautioning against over-regulating death doula services.