Dr. Maggie Ornstein, PhD, MPH, MA

Dr. Maggie Ornstein teaches family caregiving, death and dying, environmental psychology, health advocacy, public health and food studies at Sarah Lawrence College. During 15 years in the non-profit sector and three decades as a family caregiver and health care advocate, Dr. Ornstein’s experience encompasses individual and public policy advocacy related to the delivery of long-term services and supports and end-of-life care. She has expertise in family caregiving, long-term care systems, policy and service delivery, health equity and the social determinants of health. She has served on advisory boards of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) National Caregiver Support Collaborative (NCSC), the New York State Office For the Aging (NYSOFA) Family Caregiver Council, The National Alliance for Caregiving, the New York State Caregiving and Respite Coalition, the Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative, the American Association of Caregiving Youth and Community Catalyst. A public health geographer, her research focuses on the experiences of family caregivers, specifically related to their interactions with the formal health-care system through the utilization of home and community-based services. She has testified before the NY City Council and in NYS Senate and Assembly hearings related to long-term care. Special interests include youth caregiving, multi-generational housing and brain injury. She spends her free time organizing with the NY Caring Majority for a more just long-term care system in NYS.

In addition, she has certificates or in-depth training in the following areas:
Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Contact Tracing Certification
Emerge America National Candidate Boot Camp
Design Psychology
Chair Yoga Certification
Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS)
End of Life Doula Training
Home Funeral Training
NYC Master Composter Certification

Dr. Ornstein is a member of the Scholars Strategy Network.