Jim W. Latimer, M.D., F.A.A.F.P
Dr.
Jim W. Latimer has been practicing family medicine for 16 years, but many
of his patients have known him for more than forty. His family tree in
Henry County goes back 185 years and seven generations to some of the first
settlers in Henry County near Kelleytown. Sixteen branches of his family
tree have been in Henry County for at least 6 generations.
Dr. Jim W. Latimer earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt
University School of Medicine in Nashville and completed his family practice
residency training at the McLennan County Medical Education and Research
Foundation in Texas. He grew up locally, attended Stockbridge High School
and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Physics from the Georgia
Institute of Technology. Board-certified by the American Board of Family
Practice, Dr. Latimer is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Family
Practice.
Dr. Latimer states: “Twenty-two years ago I wrote as my goal:
“I wish to use my occupational experience and academic background to harness
the rapidly advancing technology and the explosive growth of scientific
knowledge, and yet not lose the compassion and sensitivity to the human
needs of patients. My goal is to devote my life to using my God-given abilities
and experience to be a physician who cares for and listens to his patients,
who promotes family relationships, who teaches enthusiastically, and who
heals the whole person—physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.” That
is still my goal decades later!
Now I’m practicing at McIntosh Trail Family Practice in my
hometown of Stockbridge using state-of-the-art medical technology and equipment,
paperless electronic medical records, and even ePrescribe (electronic prescriptions).
It is a challenge to harness that technology and still keep my goal to practice
like the “old country doctor,” who treats his patients the same way I would
treat my family in the same situations.
My choice to study medicine resulted from a lengthy process of sorting through my various abilities, interests, and enjoyments, and realizing that I would utilize them to the highest potential only through helping others. For that reason medicine is for me the ultimate occupation. It offers such a challenge to the mind coupled with the opportunity to work intimately with others. The longer I practice, the more I’m amazed at God’s greatest creation: the human mind and body.
I take great pleasure in building a rapport with patients, and believe that healing is facilitated by showing genuine interest and compassion to patients. There is a special experience in helping my patients as they go through joys and sorrows, pain and happiness, cancer and injury; and helping them live more productively. Sometimes practicing medicine is like being a guide, to walk alongside my patients as they travel the valley of illness or despair, until they can see the mountains of faith, health, and encouragement on either side.
I
see close hand the incredible resilience of peoples’ personality
as they go through the most trying times of their life, and along the way,
witness a few true miracles where God has simply healed or guided when modern
medicine had no remedy.”
Dr. Latimer and his wife, Sharon, still live in Henry County. His hobbies include snowmobiling, traveling, crafts, genealogy, and photography. The couple enjoys spending time with their two daughters, Sarah Kate and Rebekah. His exam rooms are filled with numerous photos of them and their travels, artwork and personal history that entertain patients (who keep an eye out for the latest photos).
