Health & Fitness

Golfers, Volunteers
Bolster Free Clink

he Gary Burnstein Community
Health Clinic in Pontiac will
hold its 8th Annual Golf Classic
on Monday, June 13, at Tam-O-Shanter
Country Club in West Bloomfield.
For those who do not play golf, a
Games Day has been added, which will
include canasta, mahjong and bridge.
Attendees will enjoy lunch, dinner and
silent and live auctions. There also is a
dinner-only option.
The clinic was established in 2004 to
honor and carry on the volunteer work
of the late Dr. Gary Burnstein. After his
death in 2003, friends and admirers
continued his dream to provide free
medical care for those in need.
The effort has been supported by
Burnstein's family and friends, and
local religious and community orga-
nizations. A donation from the Jewish
Fund, which was created from the sale
of Sinai Hospital in Detroit, helped the
clinic open its doors.
Thousands of uninsured and under-
insured Oakland County citizens
receive free medical, dental and phar-
maceutical services at the facility.

Volunteer Staffi
The clinic is staffed by volunteer health
care professionals. Their primary goal is
to insure that those who have fallen on
difficult times receive quality and com-
passionate care, regardless of race, creed
or religious affiliation.
Patients are seen Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for

Volunteer Leticia Haff and Medical Director Jerry Gold
of West Bloomfield check a patient's file.

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March 31 2011

Dr. Keith Bornstein of Huntington Woods is a key
volunteer.

various services.
The dental clinic is under the
directorship of Dr. William Lukacs.
All medical services are overseen
by the medical director, Dr. Jerry
Gold. Retired physicians have made
major contributions of time and
money in keeping the clinic operating.
The Burnstein Clinic's patient
assistance program is run by Patty
Edwards. This past year, nearly $1
million in medications were dis-
pensed at the clinic at no charge to the
patients or the facility.
The clinic receives no government
funding and is totally dependent on
grants and personal and corporate
donations.

Lay Workers Needed / Too
According to Executive Director Pam
Haratsis, there is a critical need for pro-
fessional volunteers to expand services
and serve more patients. Lay volunteers
are also needed to help with the daily
non-medical programs. To volunteer,
or for more information on the June
13 Golf Classic, call the Gary Burnstein
Community Health Clinic at (248) 758-
1690.
Other events supporting the clinic
include Esteemed Women of Michigan
on Sept. 26 at the Royal Park Hotel in
Rochester and In the Eat of the Night at
Leon and Lulu's in Clawson on Nov. 5.
To sign up for any event or to volun-
teer, visit garyburnsteinclinic.org or
call (248) 758-1690.

Nancy Lefkowitz of Birmingham weighs a patient at
the Burnstein Clinic.