Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation is dedicated to furthering the legacy and work of pioneering legend, Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is considered one of the most influential people and important minds of the last century. Her personal grit and determination forever changed how the world treats its dying. Her tireless efforts to assure that those who are dying be treated with compassion and dignity have now become the standard in end of life care. Dr. Ross taught the world that dying was actually about living and that our work here was to learn how to love unconditionally.

The ELISABETH KUBLER-ROSS FOUNDATION was formed as an IRS designated 501 C-3 nonprofit agency in 2005. Its mission is to further the work and teachings of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross to live fully, love unconditionally, and die with dignity and peace. Programs of the Foundation include:

• Create and foster programs that provide end of life care around the world that is consistent with
  the philosophy and teachings of Dr. Kubler-Ross
• Provide educational programs that deepen the understanding of the needs of those who are dying
  and those who are grieving
• Develop curricula and provide training for those involved in end of life care
• Support research that will expand our understanding of the needs of those who are dying

Radio Interview with Ken Ross & Dianne Gray about Elisabeth’s legacy and the EKR Foundation
Click : “On Demand”
Scroll down to: Steve Spierer, February 6, 2010
http://TalkRadioOne.com/

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation Board:

Ken Ross – Board President
ken@ekrfoundation.org

Ken Ross, son of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (deceased), pioneering legend in hospice and bereavement education in the United States, and noted author of 22 books in 34 languages about death and dying is President, of the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation, 2005 – present (www.ekrfoundation.org). Ken was the principal care provider for his mother in the last 9 years of her life.

His responsibilities included handling over 80 publishers of Dr. Ross’s work, public relations, archiving her video and audio recordings, as well as preserving her research papers. While growing up, he traveled with her extensively while on her numerous foreign trips witnessing her lectures and workshops. Ken has made a series of lectures on his mother for hospices around the country in 2009.

A professional photographer by trade, he is currently trying to photograph 101 countries.

www.kenrossphotography.com

Author, Real Taste of Life: A Journal by Ken Ross and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, 2002

Tea with Elisabeth by Ken Ross, Fern Stewart Welch, and Rose Winters, 2009

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Carole A. Fisher – Board Member

Carole A. Fisher is honored to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Nathan Adelson Hospice, bringing to the position, vast knowledge of the healthcare industry, a strong belief in the hospice philosophy, and a passion for the organization’s mission.  She is a visionary in her leadership and aspires for Nathan Adelson to be the hospice of choice, the employer of preference, and the training center of excellence.

Early in her career, Ms. Fisher served as a Substance Abuse Counselor and Executive Director of Bridge Counseling Associates, creatively securing a series of diminishing federal and state resources that expanded the scope of services the agency provided to the community.  After leaving Bridge Counseling to pursue a career as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer in for-profit behavioral healthcare, Ms. Fisher wished to broaden her professional knowledge and accepted an invitation to serve as Executive Director for Southwest Medical Associates, a division of Sierra Health Services, the largest managed healthcare company in Nevada.

In her role as Executive Director for Southwest Medical Associates, she was a superior chief administrator, overseeing 15 medical clinics and directing 600 employees, however, Ms. Fisher’s true professional calling has always been in not-for-profit healthcare, and in June of 2005, she accepted a position with Nathan Adelson Hospice as Executive Vice President.

Her professional and community accomplishments have also been recognized through awards and honors, including Leadership Las Vegas, Women of Achievement in Business, as a Woman to Watch in 2009 and named one of 20 executives in Nevada Business Magazine’s “20/20: Executives Who Have Shown 20/20 Vision”. Carole is a past board member of Nevada Child Seekers, past member of Temple Beth Shalom, she serves as a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Governance Committee and the Public Policy Committee and is a board member of the Nevada Hospital Association.

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Dianne Gray – Board Member
dianne@ekrfoundation.org

Dianne Gray is President of Hospice and Healthcare Communications, (www.hhccommunications.com)  a communications company focused on furthering initiatives, projects and conversations on the topics of end-of-life and palliative care. Hospice and Healthcare Communications also represents several nationally recognized speakers, authors, and corporations within the end-of-life care community and takes every opportunity to connect great people with great programming whenever possible.

Dianne is also an award winning writer and has written for several national and international academic journals, websites, textbooks, magazines and newspapers. She is an active advocate and speaker at conferences, and on radio and television on the topic of  pediatric palliative care, hospice, medical ethics, and living life to its fullest.

She is also on the board of Children’s Hospice and Pediatric Care Coalition, NHPCO’s ChiPPs Education workgroup, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, and has participated in IPPC (Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care) and other parent panels nationwide.

Dianne has a degree from Western Carolina University, where she studied Sports Management/Sports Medicine. She was the parent and caregiver of her son, Austin, who died in 2005 as a result of NBIA Disorders (Neurodegenerative Brain Iron Accumulation Disorders.) She also has a daughter, Christina. In her free time, she can be found traveling the globe and enjoys meeting people wherever she is. She also likes photography, being outdoors, hiking, biking, kayaking and exploring!

Jennifer Hale, RN BS CHPN – Board Member
jennifer@ekrfoundation.org

Jennifer Hale has over 18 years of health care experience in a variety of clinical and leadership positions in home care, long term care and hospice.  Jennifer began her career as an LPN in 1992, earned her associate’s degree in nursing in 2001 and completed her BS in Healthcare Management in 2009.

Ms. Hale moved to Georgia in 2002 from South Texas and it was there she found her passion in clinical care at the bedside of hospice patients.  Jennifer became a certified hospice and palliative care registered nurse in 2003 and has maintained her certification since that time.  In 2006, Ms. Hale was elected to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and in 2008 she was elected as Treasurer of that body.  Later in 2008, Ms. Hale assumed direct leadership of the organization in a temporary capacity, serving as Executive Director of the organization.  Making the leap to non-profit organization management was not a difficult one for her, however, and by the end of 2008, she was offered the position full time.

In her capacity as the Executive Director for the Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Jennifer has provided numerous testimonies to the Georgia General Assembly regarding end-of-life care and has presented in a variety of settings including local, state and national venues about such things as advance directives, clinical excellence, regulatory compliance and general hospice information.  Jennifer also participates in the Georgia Alliance for Palliative Care, the Healthcare Ethics Consortium of Georgia, and founded the Georgia Alliance for Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care.  She believes whole-heartedly in the philosophy of live well, laugh often and love much and incorporates humor and compassion in her approach to education, training and outreach.

Andre Walker – Board Member
Cape Town, South Africa

BTech Public Management, BTech Human Resources Development (specializing in Organizational Development and Organizational Design), Dip Local Government Management, Honors degree Labor Law.

Worked in local government as Director Of Disaster Management, before he became involved in Hospice work sixteen years ago. In 2000, Andre became the convener of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa’s (HPCA) organizational development subcommittee, and is now the HPCA’s Organizational Development Manager and Regional manager for Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. Served on several Boards of Directors and is currently the chairperson of Harmony Foundation and Lee Adendorf Memorial Sports Academy. Co – founder of AW Management Consulting which specializes in Organizational Development, Strategic Management and Leadership Development.

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