Board of Directors
The St. Joseph’s Hospice Board of Directors is comprised of volunteer leaders from the community. This diverse group is committed to ensuring Hospice delivers compassionate care to those we serve, while fostering the organization’s mission, vision, and values.
Cassandra DeMelo
Cassandra is a criminal defence lawyer, with over a decade of experience in this area. She founder her own firm, DeMelo Heathcote, and continues to provide compassionate and judgement-free representation to those charged with criminal offences. She is completing her PhD at Western Law, where she focuses on drug reform. She co-authored “Law and Mental Health in Canada: Cases and Materials”, and is a visiting lecturer at Western Law for a course that focuses on the intersection of mental health issues and the law. She is also on the executive of a number of legal organizations, including President of the London Criminal Lawyers' Association.
Cassandra joins the Board of Directors in 2023, but is no stranger to St. Joseph's Hospice. Her grandmother was a patient at Hospice in 2017, where Cassandra was able to see and experience the dignity and care that is offered to patients through the work done here. She began working as a Committee Member for the Handbags for Hospice event the following year, and has been a part of that even since. She is delighted to be able to give back further, and hopes to make further contributions to the work of Hospice.
On a personal note, Cassandra enjoys spending time with her large family, including her husband and daughter. She is an avid traveller, a former competitive dancer, and loves a good meal with friends.
Sarah Martens
Sarah has practiced in the area of professional regulation since her Call to the Bar in 2013, including regularly assisting physicians in responding to complaints to, and investigations conducted by, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, assisting physicians through the process of quality assurance reviews, and representing physicians at the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board. In addition, her practice has included assisting physicians with disputes regarding hospital privileges and providing advice to physicians regarding various mandatory reporting obligations.
Sarah has been with Lerners LLP since 2011 as a Student, Lawyer, and now Partner since 2019. She is a member of the Advocates' Society, Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association, and Middlesex Law Association.
She has been part of the Red Shoe Society, as well as on multiple St. Joseph's Hospice Committees such as Four Elements for Hospice, Bites & Bubbles, and Hike for Hospice.
Outside of the office, Sarah enjoys cardio kickboxing, volleyball, and travelling.