Grace Community Health started in 2017 at Newgate Mission in Longview, where dedicated volunteers, Dr. Glenn McDonald and UT Tyler Nursing Students began providing medical screenings and free basic medical care each Friday to individuals experiencing homelessness. The clinic has expanded to offer additional services on Monday afternoons at Longview Community Ministries, Women’s Clinic, Eye Clinic, special programming, and community services reflecting our commitment to meeting the growing needs of our community.
We recognize that people experiencing homelessness often struggle with chronic illnesses such as kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, infections, and electrolyte imbalances. Without access to basic care, these conditions frequently remain unmanaged, leading to preventable emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Grace Community Health strives to provide whole-patient care evaluating the physical, psychological, social, and emotional needs of each patient. We are also committed to providing trauma-informed care and helping patients to manage adverse social determinants of health.
Who We Serve
Grace Community Health is committed to serving as a “safety net of resources” and coordinated care for individuals who are homeless or underserved in our six-county area. We recognize that our patients may be dealing with mental health issues, medication adherence challenges, or difficulty navigating the traditional healthcare system.
An estimated 500 people experience homelessness across Gregg, Upshur, Marion, Harrison, Panola, and Rusk counties, with women constituting approximately 38% of this population. The traditional medical system is not designed for individuals without resources—Grace Community Clinic fills this critical gap.
We collaborate with local partners including Hiway 80 Mission, House of Hope, House of Disciples, The Salvation Army, Newgate Mission, GLOW, and other organizations in our community to meet the health needs of our shared community. We strive to fill a gap in services, not to duplicate services already provided by our partners. Patients are seen by credentialed providers and prescribed medications on our budget-friendly formulary. Grace Community Health pays for all prescriptions and delivers them directly to the shelters for safe keeping and administration. This effort helps patients to manage acute and chronic conditions and decrease emergency department visits.
Why This Matters
Prompt, timely intervention can significantly reduce the need for costly emergency department visits and hospital admissions. By providing accessible primary care, Grace Community Health helps patients manage their health conditions before they become severe, improving quality of life and reducing the burden on emergency healthcare systems.
“These are human beings that need someone to care about them. We need to care about others,” explains Grace Community Health leadership. Whether individuals have experienced hardships or struggle to work within traditional systems, everyone deserves compassionate, quality healthcare.
Read about us in the Longview News-Journal
Grace Community Health Leadership
Executive Board
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Dr. Glenn McDonaldFounder and President
Born and raised in Longview, Texas, Dr. Glenn McDonald is a proud Texan at heart. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. Dr. McDonald is a seasoned nephrologist who has 20+ years in practice. He is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients in our community. Dr. McDonald is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology.
Beyond his work at East Texas Kidney Specialists, he is the founder and president of The Grace Clinic in Longview, Texas, an establishment that renders healthcare services to individuals in our community that are experiencing homelessness or financial difficulties. He partners with other local physicians and UT Longview nursing students to offer medical care to those in need.
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Leslie GoudarziExecutive Director
Leslie Goudarzi, MHA, MS, RD-AP, LD, CNSC, is the Executive Director of Grace Community Health. Prior to joining Grace Community Health, Goudarzi worked at Central Health, the Travis County Hospital District in Austin as the Director of Education and Research. In her position at Central Health, she led Education and Medical Programming to provide meaningful medical and social assistance to individuals living below the poverty line.
She also has an extensive background in clinical nutrition where she worked as a dietitian at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in nutrition support for neurology, liver transplant, and cardiovascular patients receiving ECMO and vasoactive agents. Goudarzi previously worked at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in East Texas, where she established an interdisciplinary Nutrition Support Service providing improved outcomes for patients receiving enteral and parenteral nutrition.
Goudarzi holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition from Stephen F. Austin State University and Master of Science in healthcare administration from Texas Tech University. She became a Registered Dietitian in 1995. and Board Certified in Nutrition Support since 1997 and serves on the Education and Research Committee and the Self-Assessment Committee with the American Society of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition. She is Board Certified as an Advanced Practitioner (2026) and Board Certified in Pediatrics (2004) by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and holds a Certificate in Obesity Treatment and Health Promotion. In addition to her clinical advocacy, Goudarzi has varied experience teaching at the collegiate level, including Texas Tech University, Stephen F. Austin University, and Kilgore College, educating and precepting undergraduate and graduate students, in addition to pharmacy and medical residents. She has taught a variety of nutrition science courses, food science, and online nutrition classes, and has served in various leadership roles over the course of 25+ years in academic and community medicine.
Goudarzi has led multiple medical mission trips, obtaining grant funding, and precepting graduate nutrition students and medical residents in nutrition and cultural competencies. She has also served on numerous professional committees with the American Society of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition, community advisory boards advocating for disadvantaged populations, and outreach programming.
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Carroll GreenwaldtBoard Vice-President
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- Lifelong Texan
- BSME, Southern Methodist University 1975
- MBA in Finance & Management, Stephen F. Austin University 1980
- Served in Leadership Positions for 45 years at Eastman Kodak/Eastman Chemical, retiring as Director of Utilities & Environmental Services in 2020
- Served on a number of boards including Greater Longview United Way, East TX Treatment Center, and the East Texas Food Bank Development Committee
- Served on the President’s Advisory Committee, LeTourneau University
- Member and Leader, First United Methodist Church for 50 yrs.
- Active Rotarian for over 34 yrs. Past President Longview South & Longview Rotary Clubs
- Past District Governor, Rotary International, for N/E TX, Southern OK, and SW Arkansas
- Served in a number of Leadership Positions in Rotary District 5830
- Led several teams to Guatemala, spearheading over $250k in humanitarian projects over the past 10 years
- Current Chair of Refuge International
- Married to Mary Greenwaldt, with three grown children, seven grandchildren, and a Chihuahua
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Jillian GriefenkampSecretary
Bio coming soon.
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Deborah BellBoard Member
Deborah Bell is a Family Nurse Practitioner and nonprofit leader based in Gilmer, Texas, where she combines grassroots community medicine with a passion for serving vulnerable populations locally and abroad. Deborah has founded numerous non-profits and has often been described as the “Mother Teresa of East Texas.” She has a unique way of motivating those she works with and her patients alike. A mother of four and grandmother of twelve, she brings a deeply relational, family-centered approach to her work.
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Amy BestBoard Member
Amy Best is the Community Health Manager for the City of Longview, a role she began in March 2025. In this position, she continues her work with the Greater Longview Optimal Wellness program (GLOW) and is responsible for developing Community Health programs and managing their associated grants.
Prior to her current role, Amy served with the Longview Fire Department for 25 years, from October 1999 until her retirement in January 2025. During her tenure, she held an Advanced Firefighter Certification, Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, Haz-Mat Technician, Incident Safety Officer, and Basic Wildland Firefighter certifications from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. She also maintains her Paramedic Certification and EMS Instructor with the Texas Department of State Health Services, and Community Healthcare Worker certification with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Her leadership within the Fire Department included being promoted from Captain to EMS Section Chief in August 2016, overseeing Emergency Medical Services for the city. She later served as the Community Health Section Chief, a position created in June 2024, until her retirement. She was actively involved in department initiatives such as the Special Operations Team, PIER Team – Recruiting, and the City Manager’s Applicant Diversity Team. Amy also led the steering committee for GLOW, a collaborative effort focused on community wellness, and served as the Pre Hospital Chair of the Regional Advisory Council.
A highly educated professional, Amy is a graduate of the Texas Fire Chief Executive Officer program and the Executive Fire Officer program from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.
Her professional and civic life reflects a deep focus on the care of others. Outside of her career, she is an active member of Zonta International, promoting the welfare of women and children, and serves on the East Texas Alzheimer’s Alliance.
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Tiffany HagoodBoard Member
Tiffany Hagood is a healthcare leader in Longview, Texas dedicated to serving others through compassionate care and strong operational and financial leadership.
Tiffany began her career as a Registered Nurse in 2014, driven by a passion for helping others, and later transitioned into healthcare administration to lead teams and improve systems of care. In her role with East Texas Kidney Specialists, she oversees operations, strategic growth, and financial performance, ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
Her heart for service extends beyond her profession. Tiffany enjoys participating in international mission trips to Africa and remains actively involved in community outreach. Outside of work and volunteer time, she cherishes her time with her husband and daughters —most often at the softball fields cheering on her oldest daughter while keeping up with her youngest.
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Dr. Chris YanceyBoard Member
Dr. Chris Yancey, a graduate of Longview High School, attended Stephen F. Austin State University. majoring in biology. He attended medical school at the University of Texas in Houston, followed by residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Yancey is board certified in Ob/Gyn and a Member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
“All people have value and worth. All people are made in the image of the Creator. For those on the outside of society that feeling of worth and control over your life or situation may feel unattainable. Gaining at least some control over your own personal healthcare is the first step.”
Board of Directors
- Steve Archer
- Laura Benson
- Paige Brewer
- Dr. Lewis Brown, MD
- Cindy Campbell
- Dr. John Dipasquale
- Leah Erikson
- Jerry Gardner
- Dr. Rick Earnest
- Sarah Earnest
- Teresa Jones
- Natasha Montgomery
- Honorable Lauren Parish
- Captain Tamara Robb
- Dr. Kim Quiett
- Chase Rodgers
- Tim Wiseman
- Drew Womack
Our Vision for the Future
Grace Community Health is actively working to expand services to better serve our community:
- Women’s health services
- Additional clinic days throughout the week
- Mobile clinic to reach more remote areas
- Permanent clinic facility
- Enhanced coordination of care across multiple service providers
