About Social Work at AMC

Honoring the Human-Animal Bond

Our animal companions are with us through life’s celebrations and trials, and you want to be there for them when they need it most. When your animal companion is facing health challenges, our team will be with you every step of the way, making sure the humans and animals in your family get the support and compassion you deserve.

About Social Work at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

At AMC, our full-time, on-site licensed clinical social workers are a part of your animal’s care team. We understand both the practical and emotional challenges that come with the illness or loss of a beloved animal companion. Our social workers are here to provide support both during and after your animal’s stay at AMC.

We can help you and your family in the following ways:

  • Making difficult end-of-life decisions
  • Helping your family cope with your animal’s illness at home
  • Helping you talk to your children about your animal’s illness or death
  • Facilitating discussions or meetings with your animal’s medical team
  • Directing you to community resources, including mental health services and pet-related services
  • Being present before, during, and/or after euthanasia
  • Providing educational resources about your animal’s diagnosis, treatment, or the grief/loss process
  • Offering free Pet Loss Support Group and Forever In Our Hearts Support Circle
  • Free Caregiver Support Group for AMC clients

About Veterinary Social Work

Veterinary social work is a subspecialty of social work that focuses on supporting the needs of the human side of relationships between people and animals. Though they often overlap, the four areas of veterinary social work are: grief and bereavement, intentional well-being, the link between human and animal violence, and animal-assisted interventions. Here at AMC, our focus is on providing end-of-life and bereavement support to clients, serving as a liaison and advocate between clients and the medical team, and assisting staff with managing stress and reducing compassion fatigue. We are dedicated to supporting and nourishing the bond between families and their animal companions as well as that between animals and their devoted medical providers.

Brynne Baizer

Brynne Baizer, LMSW

Staff Veterinary Social Worker
brynne.baizer@amcny.org

Brynne Baizer joined the AMC team full time in 2025, as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). With experience across diverse settings supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families, Brynne is adept at understanding each individual’s unique lived experience and supporting their needs and care goals with empathy. She brings a compassionate, trauma-informed, patient-centered approach to individuals and families navigating the complex emotional landscape of caring for a beloved pet, who is truly a member of the family. Brynne holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University in New York and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Studies from the University of Richmond in Virginia.

Jamie Cohen, LCSW

Jamie Cohen, LCSW

Staff Veterinary Social Worker

Jamie Cohen is a full-time, on-site Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She is excited to be a part of the AMC team. Jamie has over 11 years of experience providing support to trauma survivors of all ages, as well as to individuals and families grieving the loss of a loved one. Jamie is an animal lover who understands how the human-animal bond can be life-changing. She looks forward to using her expertise in crisis intervention, grief work, and trauma to support clients at AMC. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology from Skidmore College.

Pet Loss Support Resources