Love Thy Neighbor: Healthcare and Justice
Thursday, October 22
6:30pm – 8:30pm
The Catholic Social Teaching theme of Rights and Responsibilities recognizes health care as a right because it safeguards human life and dignity. As people of faith, we are called to reach out, build relationships, and work together to promote love and justice. The Blessed Sacrament Social Justice Committee invites you to an evening of information and conversation featuring three local speakers: Jim Mier of Gateway Healthcare, Toby Long, MD, of Cathedral Free Clinic, and David Scott of DHHS of Midland on October 22nd at 6:30-8:30pm in the Parish Social Hall. Together, we will learn about local health care and social service resources, make connections within our community, and gain insight into how we can support access to health care and advance social justice for all people throughout the Great Lakes Bay Area. A Q&A session will follow the presentations.
About Our Speakers
David Scott
Family Independence Manager
Gladwin/Midland County DHHS
David Scott was born and raised in Midland Michigan. He has spent his whole life in the Midland Community. David attended the University of Michigan and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and then attended Wayne State Law School. David worked for the Department of Health and Human Services for 36 years retiring earlier this month. He spent the first 16 years working in Saginaw County and the remaining 20 years here in Midland County.
Jim Mier
Jim Mier serves as the Clinic Director of Gateway Family & Urgent Care, a faith-based nonprofit medical clinic in Midland dedicated to making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to people in the community.
After a 34-year career in information technology with Dow Corning, Jim chose to spend his retirement very differently than he once might have imagined. He became involved with Gateway before the clinic opened its doors in 2022 and has helped guide its growth from an idea into a thriving healthcare ministry that has now provided over 8,000 patient visits.
Today, Jim is deeply involved in Gateway’s leadership, fundraising, community partnerships, and day-to-day operations. What keeps him passionate about the work is simple: behind every statistic is a person—often someone who is working hard, struggling financially, and simply needs access to good healthcare without worrying about whether they can afford it.
Jim and his wife, Gayle, live in the Midland area and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Dr. Toby Long
Dr Long attended Western Michigan University as a Medallion Scholar and graduated with a BA in English Literature, followed by a Masters in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine as a part of the rural physician program. Dr. Long has served as a faculty member at CMU’s Family Medicine Residency since 2016 and has enjoyed overseeing the MIDOC family medicine residency program since its inception. When he is not busy with the Cathedral Free Clinic or GLBHC patients and paperwork, he is likely doing something with a local parish, coaching soccer, or trying to keep up with the wonderful chaos of raising six kids with his better half, Andrea.