Merilynne Rush has been working with families in transition since 1980. In addition to being a midwife, she has been a hospice nurse, a companion caregiver, home funeral guide, and health-care volunteer in India, Nicaragua, and West Africa. Merilynne has an MS in Hospice and Palliative Studies and a Nurse Educator Certificate from Madonna University, a BS in Nursing from the University of Michigan, and a BA in Humanities and Women's Studies from Michigan State University. She is a Certified Respecting Choices® First Steps Advance Care Planning Instructor. In service to nonprofit organizations, she was president of the National End-of-life Doula Alliance (NEDA) from its founding in 2018 to October, 2020, is a founding member of the NHPCO End-of-life Doula Council and current vice-chair, and served on the board of directors of the Green Burial Council, the National Home Funeral Alliance, Michigan Doula Connection, Washtenaw Health Initiative Advance Care Planning Committee, and the Michigan Midwives Association. Merilynne received her SageUSA "Caring for LGBT Older Adults" endorsement in 2020. Se habla Espanol.