Follow-up with Dustin Latimer, MS, PA-C
2010 NP/PA Clinical Hepatology Fellowship recipient
Since completing his 2010 AASLD NP/PA Clinical Hepatology Fellowship, Dustin Latimer has remained active within AASLD and the hepatology community as a whole. Between serving on the AASLD Hepatology Associates Committee, Co-Chairing the Hepatology Associates Course at The Liver Meeting® 2012, and putting his hepatology expertise into practice at the Mazzoni Center for Community and Family Health in Philadelphia, Latimer was able to update us on the projects he’s undertaken since he was featured in the 2011 Annual Report.
How are things going at the Mazzoni Center? Have you been able to put your hepatology expertise to work?
My work at the Mazzoni Center has been going very well. I have been able to incorporate a small hepatitis treatment practice within my general primary care clinics. Treating chronic hepatitis, especially hepatitis C treatment, from a primary care setting allows for more frequent follow-up, and a more holistic approach to each patient. I have also been able to incorporate other services, such as on site case management and social supports and nutritionist consults, into each patient's treatment plans, on an as-needed basis.
Looking back on your time so far as a member of the Hepatology Associates Committee, what initiative(s) are you most proud of? What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I am particularly proud of the work that went into the 2012 Associates Course. This particular challenge, though very rewarding, was also quite time consuming. In the coming year, I look forward to spreading my time amongst the other Associate Committee efforts. I am also particularly impressed with the ACT-on-HCV program that Sue Currie has put together, and I hope to begin working with this program in the coming months.
What do you wish more people knew about hepatology, AASLD, or the NP/PA Clinical Hepatology Fellowship?
As a prior NP/PA fellowship awardee, I would like to see this honor advertised more frequently. I know that there are many new to hepatology mid-level providers that have not applied for this award, simply as they did not know that it was an option. I would also love to see an increase in Hepatology Associate membership within the AASLD. I would strongly encourage the associate non-members to take a look at the benefits of membership, and help to support the efforts of the associates committee.