Honoring the Legacy of Emily Westfal: A Social Work Pioneer in Bereavement Care

By Evermore and Nora Biette-Timmons

Every March, we recognize Social Work Month—a time to celebrate the dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts of social workers. This year’s theme, “Compassion and Action,” is a perfect reflection of the life and legacy of Emily Westfal, a beloved social worker at New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Emily co-founded the NYP Social Work Bereavement Committee in 2012 alongside her close colleague, Lauren Yuill. Tragically, Emily passed away from leukemia in 2015 at the age of 33, but her legacy continues to impact patients, families, and hospital staff.

This year marks ten years since Emily’s passing, making it a meaningful time to reflect on the incredible work she accomplished and how it continues to thrive today.

A Lifelong Dedication to Social Work

Emily Ann Westfal was born in Manhattan and spent her early years in Richmond Hill, Queens, before moving to New Canaan, Connecticut, at the age of four. From an early age, Emily displayed an innate sense of empathy and a sharp wit that endeared her to everyone she met. She was the child who consoled her classmates when they scraped their knees, the friend who stayed up late talking through heartaches, and the advocate who never hesitated to speak up for others.

Emily’s career was defined by her unwavering commitment to supporting patients and their families, particularly within the heart transplant team at NYP-Columbia. Recognizing the importance of end-of-life care, she furthered her education by obtaining a post-master’s certificate in Palliative and End-of-Life Care from NYU in 2013. Her work was driven by the belief that bereavement care is an essential part of healthcare—a belief that continues to shape NYP’s approach to grief support today.

A Friendship Rooted in Compassion and Action

During Emily’s time on the transplant and palliative care teams at NYP, she met Lauren, and they quickly became close friends. Lauren described their bond as that of “work wives,” but Emily’s warmth and kindness meant she had “many work wives.” Their shared commitment to patient care led them to recognize a critical gap in bereavement services at the hospital. Families who had lost loved ones often received little to no bereavement support, and staff members frequently carried their own unspoken grief.

“Bereavement care: everyone thinks someone else is in charge,” Lauren said, highlighting the widespread assumption that grief support falls to another department, another individual. Emily and Lauren knew otherwise. They believed that “bereavement care is healthcare” and set out to create a volunteer-driven bereavement care group within NYP’s social work staff. Together, they knew they had to act.

Establishing a Lasting Legacy: The NYP Social Work Bereavement Committee

Founded in 2012, the NYP Social Work Bereavement Committee introduced a variety of grief support initiatives, including:

•  An annual memorial service for families of deceased patients.
• Grief support groups for hospital staff coping with loss.
• Continuing education lectures on topics like anticipatory grief, legacy work, and children’s grief.
•  A hospital-wide bereavement card, which includes a dedicated bereavement phone line and email, providing families with a direct way to seek grief support and community referrals.

Emily and Lauren’s dedication to this work was deeply personal. “Both Emily and I bonded over the different types of grief we experienced early in our lives and how grief can shape children,” Lauren recalled.

“I could tell that it was not just a job for her; she was a strong advocate for her patients and families,” shared Jackie Bioh, Emily’s social work manager. “She was a dedicated staff member and colleague who was not afraid to share her thoughts.”

“She had the best sense of humor, and we always found something to laugh about—even in the most unlaughable situations,” said former coworker Suah Hwang. “She was brave and daring when it came to sticking up for people who needed her. She was an exceptional coworker and an even more exceptional friend.”

“Emily had an unstoppable fearlessness,” reflected former coworker Sharon Staley. “I watched her do soulful work because she didn’t know any other way. I carry her with me every day.”

Emily’s father, Richard, remembers how even as a teenager, Emily had a way of making sure people felt seen and heard. “She would sit with her grandmother for hours, holding her hand, asking her questions about her past, and making sure she never felt alone.” Her mother, Debbie, recalls Emily’s ability to find humor even in the darkest moments, once jokingly declaring that she wished she could “bottle up” the comfort she gave to patients so that grief could feel just a little less heavy.

Facing Grief Firsthand

While working as a transplant social worker, Emily was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She underwent treatment while continuing to work, eventually achieving remission. But in late 2014, she faced another devastating diagnosis: leukemia. Despite undergoing treatment, Emily passed away on July 2, 2015, surrounded by her loved ones.

Her death was a profound shock to those who knew and loved her. She was not only a dedicated social worker but also a triathlete who had recently completed the NYC Marathon. Her colleagues struggled to reconcile the loss of such a vibrant presence.

“One of the chaplains at NYP was the one to tell me when Emily died,” Lauren shared. “Walking through the hospital was hard—every corner was filled with memories of her. There was no escaping grief, especially as I worked directly in helping others with grief.”

The very bereavement committee Emily helped build was now faced with the challenge of processing their own loss. The head of NYU’s Zelda Foster Palliative and End-of-Life program, where Emily had studied, came to NYP to provide support sessions. “We were not able to fully do it on our own, being personally impacted,” Lauren said.

Continuing Emily’s Work

One of Emily’s greatest lessons was that avoidance was not an option. “She had a way of always making each person feel so cared for and special—her patients, families, coworkers, and of course, her family and friends,” Lauren recalled.

To honor Emily’s dedication, NYP established the annual Emily Westfal Bereavement Lecture, aimed at empowering social workers and case managers to better support grieving families. Lauren continues to carry Emily’s legacy forward: “Sometimes, I don’t know how she found the energy, but it always seemed effortless. She was the first person to advocate and fight for something she felt strongly about, especially in the realm of social justice and healthcare delivery.”

Emily’s father, Richard, once described her as having a “strong moxie streak,” recounting a story from her college days when she boldly challenged a bouncer over a fake ID. Her brother, Charlie, shared how she used humor even in difficult times, joking about having a “cancer card” that could get her special treatment. These anecdotes reflect the essence of who Emily was—fierce, funny, and full of life.

A Life That Continues to Inspire

Emily’s sister, Maggie, shared that “Emily’s work in social work has truly made me a better doctor. … She would share stories with me about ways in which physicians were helpful or not helpful and taught me so many lessons about caring for my patients. I am a firm believer in palliative care as a result of Em’s work and her personal experience and believe that my patients have directly benefited as a result.”

Emily was “sensible, and tuned in to the bigger picture,” said her brother Josh. He said that the two of them, who were very similar and close as children—perhaps because they were only 15 months apart— “loosened up and lightened up,” adding, “We had the most fun later in her life. … Emily got better year by year, in every way.”

“Halloween was when Emily’s personality and sense of humor always shined the brightest,” her brother Michael added. According to her mom, Debbie, “She would attend a party each year and most of the women would dress up in very flattering costumes, not Em.” This included roping Maggie into being Cookie Fleck, Catherine O’Hara’s character from the film Best in Show, with Emily as her husband. “This explains so much about Em and her love of all Christopher Guest movies and not needing to always look her best. She did this to make people laugh,” her mom said. 

Today, her loved ones honor her memory by visiting a bench dedicated to her along the Charles River in Boston and by celebrating her love of life—often with her favorite beer, Magic Hat #9, during the holidays. There is also a scholarship in Emily’s name at a school outside Boston that supports students thinking about going into medicine or social work.

Lauren sums it up best: “Emily was fierce! In her love, advocacy, and opinions. Ten years ago, Emily died and left behind a legacy of giving.”

As we recognize Social Work Month and reflect on Emily’s incredible impact, we are reminded that even in a short time, one person can create ripples that last a lifetime. “The ripples of her dedication, knowledge, and deep compassion carry on,” Lauren said. “Moments to reflect like this, even years later, make grieving a little more bearable to coexist with.”