Star of the Month
Maxwell Fontaine
School of Nursing
Congratulations to our Star of the Month for March 2025, Maxwell Fontaine from the School of Nursing!
Maxwell is actively serving our community this year working with several of our amazing partners. Through the Community Outreach Program, he has been working with Gallagher Services to support adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while also serving at the The Pride Center of Maryland through SOURCE's HIV Counseling and Testing Program. In addition, he also volunteers with the Johns Hopkins HEAT Corps to teach special health education topics to K-12 youth in our city. Read our interview with Maxwell below to learn more about his experience volunteering in Baltimore!
Tell us about yourself! What brought you to the School of Nursing, and what made you want to get involved with the organizations you work with?
I’m originally from Carson City, Nevada, where I love spending time outdoors skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing, you name it! Before moving to Baltimore, I earned my bachelor’s in Environmental Science and Public Health at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. During my time there, I participated in Willamette’s Office of Civic Engagement Catalyst Program, led by Dr. Van Cleave, where I served as a Health Equity Catalyst.
Through this program, I worked with various community-based organizations (CBOs) aligned with the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in health equity. This experience gave me firsthand insight into how CBOs operate and how to provide meaningful support wherever needed, something that closely parallels my work with SOURCE. In many of the roles I’ve taken on with SOURCE, I’ve been especially drawn to health education, promotion, and self-empowerment.
I chose JHUSON for its rigorous curriculum, strong networking opportunities, tight-knit and supportive community, and the breadth of experiences, like SOURCE, that allow me to engage beyond the classroom. These opportunities have helped me grow personally and professionally, and they will allow me to set myself and my future patients up for success as a nurse and, eventually, a nurse practitioner.
"I’ve learned that meaningful change comes from supporting local community-based organizations in ways that align with their needs, rather than trying to impose overnight fixes. True impact happens through small, consistent efforts and by embracing the strong sense of community that defines Baltimore."
Can you share a little bit about your service and the work you are doing?
I’ve had the opportunity to engage with several programs through SOURCE, each offering unique ways to serve the community. As part of the Community Outreach Program (COP) for nursing students, my colleague and I are leading a health education series with Gallagher Services, an organization that provides residential and meaningful day support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our sessions cover essential health topics like hand hygiene, proper nutrition, and exercise. Collaborating with Gallagher’s staff, direct support professionals (DSPs), and the individuals they serve has been an incredibly informative experience, especially since I have limited prior exposure working with this community. Our main focus has been adapting health education materials to the different levels of independence and autonomy among the participants, ensuring that the information is both accessible and meaningful.
Through SOURCE’s HIV Testing & Counseling program, I serve as an intern at the Pride Center of Maryland (PCOM), where I assist with patient intake, paperwork, event setup, PrEP/PEP education, and HIV prevention counseling. I’m also in the final stages of training to perform HIV fingerstick rapid tests. This experience has deepened my understanding not only of HIV testing, prevention, and treatment but also of the human experience of navigating a potential diagnosis, especially within the marginalized communities that the PCOM serves.
Additionally, I volunteer with the Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps, leading virtual classroom presentations for K-12 students on topics such as mental health and wellness and the relationship between water and health. These subjects are deeply important to me. Mental health conversations need to happen more often in schools, and my background in environmental science and public health has given me a greater knowledge of how something as fundamental as water quality can be impacted by climate change and infrastructure issues like lead pipes, ultimately affecting health outcomes.
How does your community service complement what you’re learning in the classroom at the School of Nursing?
My community service work allows me to apply my educational background and hands-on experiences to serve the Baltimore community in meaningful ways. Nursing meets people where they are and encompasses many spheres of health including the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. The programs I’m involved in through SOURCE embody this holistic approach, whether in the classroom, clinic, Zoom, or residential homes.
Through these opportunities, I’m able to take an upstream approach to healthcare, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. By providing education and resources, I help empower individuals to make informed decisions about their own health, ultimately fostering greater autonomy and well-being.
What is the most important experience you’ve had or most critical thing you’ve learned so far through working with our community?
The most critical thing I have learned while working with the Baltimore community is the importance of meeting people where they are. Baltimore is an incredibly diverse city with a complex history that has shaped its social determinants of health. Recognizing this, I’ve learned that meaningful change comes from supporting local community-based organizations in ways that align with their needs, rather than trying to impose overnight fixes. True impact happens through small, consistent efforts and by embracing the strong sense of community that defines Baltimore.