Dr. Elizabeth Latimer

Dr. Latimer MD., CCFP., FCFP, is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, the Division of Palliative Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, and specializing in Palliative Care and Palliative Medicine as a consultant physician at the Hamilton Health Sciences. She is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Dr. Latimer is a pioneer in Palliative Care in Canada, having a career in Palliative Care that spans 29 years.  She is Past Founding Chairman of the Section of Palliative Care, Ontario Medical Association, founding Board Member of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and founding Director of the Regional Palliative Care Program in Hamilton-Wentworth.

Her clinical activities include the assessment and treatment of chronic severe pain, and the management of other symptoms, physical, psychosocial and spiritual, as they present in the seriously ill or dying patient and his/her family.  She teaches concepts of palliative care to undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing health professionals.

Dr. Latimer has consulted and lectured internationally in several countries including South Africa, Holland, Malaysia, United States and Saudi Arabia where she also had the privilege of caring for patients and families.

Dr. Latimer has published extensively in the fields of Palliative Care,  She is the author of two supportive care handbooks for patients and families titled:  “Easing the Hurt …” and “Miles to Go …”. To date a total of 120,000 copies have been printed and distributed to Palliative and Hospice Care Programs in Canada and beyond.

In October 1999, Dr. Latimer received Canada’s highest palliative care award the Award of Excellence in Palliative Care from the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association in recognition for her contribution to the field of Palliative and Hospice Care in Canada.

In 2004, she was the recipient of the  Ontario Medical Association Section on Palliative Care Award of Excellence, in recognition of  her contribution to Palliative Care on the local, regional, provincial and national levels.

In February 2009, the Dr. Elizabeth J. Latimer Prize was established at McMaster University. The prize is awarded annually in Dr. Latimer’s name.