Commemorating 5 years of Community-based COVID Clinic Services
- Molly Bowen | July 16, 2025
Rapidly established by Dr. Kathleen Page with then-medical student Ben Bigelow, Father Bruce Lewandowski, “Bishop Bruce,” and MDH and BCHD in the very early days of the pandemic, the Highlandtown clinic based at Sacred Heart quickly became a community lifeline for testing, vaccination, and healthcare referrals. More than 16,000 people were tested and vaccinated at this site. The partnership also conducted outreach, and distributed masks, hand sanitizer, and 2,000 boxes of food each week to some of the most vulnerable residents in our community. Recent federal funding cuts have shuttered the clinic permanently.
In an English-Spanish ceremony, Father Ako Walker, now Pastor of Sacred Heart, reflected on the power of partnerships and expressed gratitude for those who served, “Johns Hopkins showed up for this community and stayed as long as they could have.”
Kathleen Page told the powerful story of how the clinic came to be and grew over time, recognizing the foundational and continued contributions of Alejandra Flores Miller, Ana Ortega Meza, Melissa Cuesta, Ben Bigelow, and MC Fortunato. She also presented community members with commendations for service to critical clinic operations.
“It’s very sad to say goodbye,” she noted. “But hopefully this is just ‘so long,’ until we can find other ways to collaborate on community health. It’s been an incredible 5 years, and I hope we can continue to work together.”
Page herself was then presented with a Resolution issued by the Maryland State Senate in recognition of “unwavering commitment and dedicated efforts in supporting the vulnerable populations during the COVID pandemic through the development and implementation of accessible community and vaccination sites.” She also accepted a Certificate of Recognition to Johns Hopkins Hospital from Mayor Brandon Scott on behalf of the people of Baltimore “in recognition of your partnership and extraordinary contributions to the Baltimore City Health Department’s Community Mobile Vaccination program.”
