I help create a future where end-of-life and bereavement care is equitable, culturally safe and deeply human.
Why I Do This Work
I’m Stephanie Byfield, an End-of-Life Equity Consultant & Educator committed to transforming how racialized communities experience palliative care, hospice services, and bereavement support. My work is shaped by both professional experience in healthcare and community engagement, and the deep personal insight that comes from witnessing—and living through—the impacts of systemic inequities in care.
I’ve seen how often the needs, traditions, and values of racialized patients and families are overlooked—not out of intentional harm, but because our healthcare systems were never built with us in mind. This isn’t just a gap in services; it’s a gap in humanity.
My mission is to close that gap. I partner with healthcare organizations, community providers, and advocacy groups to dismantle barriers, foster cultural humility, and design care environments where dignity, compassion, and cultural safety are not optional—they’re the standard.
I bring a strong academic and professional foundation to this work, holding an Honours Degree in Health Sciences, and certifications as a Death Doula and Grief Specialist. I am also pursuing a Master’s in Psychospiritual Studies, with a Certificate in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy, deepening my understanding of the intersections between health, spirituality, and the human experience at life’s end.
Through consulting, education, and public speaking, I help create spaces where every end-of-life journey can be honored in a way that reflects the person, their family, and their culture.
My Approach
Four guiding principles shape every project I take on:
Lived Experience
I bring the perspective of someone who has stood beside families in moments of profound vulnerability. This insight allows me to understand not just the technical aspects of care, but the emotional, spiritual, and cultural realities that shape end-of-life experiences.
Collaborative Partnership
I work closely with healthcare teams, community leaders, and families to co-create solutions that reflect the needs of the people they serve. Collaboration ensures that change is rooted in trust, cultural relevance, and real-world practicality.
Cultural Humility
I approach every person and community with openness, respect, and a willingness to learn. Rather than assuming expertise in someone’s culture, I prioritize listening and adapting care approaches to honor their traditions, values, and beliefs.
Practical Solutions
While awareness is important, my focus is on action. I help organizations implement policies, tools, and training that lead to measurable improvements in equity, inclusion, and cultural safety in end-of-life and bereavement care.
My Core Values
-
Equity First
Care must address systemic barriers so everyone has access to dignity and compassion.
-
Cultural Humility
Listening, learning, and honoring each person’s lived experience.
-
Respect for Traditions
Upholding cultural and spiritual practices at every stage of care.
-
Systemic Change
Creating lasting improvements that outlive a single project or training.
This work matters deeply to me because I’ve seen the difference it makes when end-of-life and bereavement care truly honour a person’s culture, values, and dignity. If you share this vision, I’d love to connect. Together, we can build systems that see, respect, and uplift every life — especially in life’s most vulnerable moments.