SUMMER INTERNSHIP 2005
		Everton Lewis - Ivey, MBA CEI Host Organization - Hospice Association of Ontario CEI Funding partner - CIBC

My name is Everton Lewis and I am a MBA student at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. My path to business school was not traditional and it included work periods as a market research statistician, public school teacher and educational consultant. These experiences provided an opportunity to live and work in the United Arab Emirates and travel throughout the Arabian Gulf region. After embarking on this international adventure I continued to look for a new challenge by pursuing an MBA.

I am excited to work for the Hospice Association of Ontario (HAO) this summer. This is an opportunity to work on a project that could affect many lives. Over the summer I will analyze the suitability and make recommendations for the structure of an End-of-Life Learning and Information Centre.

The HAO is an organization comprised of over 13,000 volunteers. These volunteers provide emotional, psychological and spiritual support to people in the last phase of life. They also provide relief care, emotional and bereavement support to family members of individuals entering their end-of-life. One of the statements that helps to explain the importance of hospice care is reported on the HAO website. Approximately 90 percent of Canadians say they want to die at home if possible however 75 percent of Canadians die in hospitals or other institutional settings. This clearly demonstrates the desire of Canadians to access the services provided by hospices.

The End-of-Life Learning and Information Centre is an initiative to combine a variety of services into a single package. The HAO is looking to create a centre that will provide information and empower people to make an informed decision about their end-of-life. Over the summer I hope to make a positive contribution to this organization.

Everton