40 | JUNE 29 • 2023 

I

n 1997 Gary Burnstein, D.O, a cardi-
ologist, received a letter from Grace 
Centers for Hope, a nonprofit serving 
homeless individuals in Pontiac. Grace 
was seeking physician volunteers to care 
for its clients and Dr. Burnstein agreed to 
help. 
According to Dana Burnstein, Dr. 
Burnstein’s wife, “He was always willing 
to go to bat for his patients — paying for 
tests if needed. It’s just who he was — a 
kind, caring humanitarian.”
In 2002, Dr. Burnstein decided to 
expand this medical volunteer service, 
in conjunction with other individuals, to 
create a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit clinic for peo-
ple without health insurance. “He thought 
that too many people were not getting the 
health care that they needed,” said Dana 
Burnstein, who is a founding member, 
immediate past president and CEO emer-
itus of the clinic.
Sadly, Dr. Burnstein died in 2003, but 
the following year, Kensington Church 
raised $500,000 and provided materi-
als and labor to renovate space in the 
Pontiac Rescue Mission for the free clinic 
that he imagined. The Gary Burnstein 
Community Health Clinic (GBCHC) 
opened in 2004, providing free care for 
low-income adult Michigan residents 
without insurance.

By 2012, the patient base 
had expanded, and a larger, 
more comprehensive facility 
was needed. Through assis-
tance from the Peterson Family 
Foundation, a former ball 
bearing factory on Woodward 
in Pontiac was acquired and 
retrofitted into a modern, 
well-appointed medical build-
ing. Opened in 2015, the 
7,000-square-foot facility with 
seven examination and three 
dental treatment rooms count-
ers the stereotype of what a free 
clinic is like. Additional dental 
treatment rooms were added 
in 2021 with funding from the 
Delta Dental Foundation, the 
Michigan Dental Association 
Foundation, and the Vera and 
Joseph Dresner Foundation.
Today, patient visits have 
reached 6,000 annually, back to 
pre-pandemic levels. In 2022 1,520 adults 
between the ages of 18 and 64 received 
medical, dental and optical care as well as 
prescription medications. Volunteer phy-
sicians, dentists, nurses and other health 
care professionals provide primary and 
specialty care for eligible adults. 
Since retirement from private practice, 

Richard Stoler, D.O., has volunteered 
once a month at the clinic, providing oto-
laryngology (ENT) services for patients 
whose medical issues are often facial and 
ear pain, breathing problems, drainage 
due to acid reflux and TMJ. His patients 
— typically four to 10 per day — often 
are referred by the clinic’s primary care 

Burnstein family expands 
legacy of health care for 
the uninsured.

Healing Hands

SHARI S. COHEN 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

HEALTH

PHOTOS BY SHARI S. COHEN

Mary Lewis, director of clinical operations, Ian Burnstein, 
board president, Linda Kovan, vice president, Dr. Justin 
Brox, CEO, in the clinic’s pharmacy

