August 31, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dr. Tres Latimer
575-623-7600 Office
Earl A. “Tres” Latimer III, M.D., recently earned his Subspecialty Certification in Sports Medicine from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Latimer, 48, is one of five orthopaedists in New Mexico and the only orthopaedist in Southeastern New Mexico to hold this Sports Medicine Subspecialty Certification, according to the ABOS Website, www.abos.org.
Dr. Latimer practices in Roswell with SCOR Inc. His surgical practice is exclusive to Roswell Regional Hospital.
Dr. Latimer completed a sports medicine fellowship in 1999 in California with the orthopaedic medical group SOAR (Sports Orthopedic and Rehabilitation) after he had practiced in Roswell for 6 years. He was board certified by the ABOS in 1996. SOAR provided athletic team coverage and orthopaedic care for the San Francisco 49ers (NFL), the San Francisco Giants (MLB), Stanford University Athletics, Santa Clara University Athletics, U. S. Olympic Decathlon, and several local college athletics programs. Dr. Latimer also helped with medical coverage of the X-games in 1999.
“It was a sacrifice to take a leave from my practice in Roswell and move my family to California for the training; however, it was a tremendous experience,” said Dr. Latimer. “SOAR is considered one of top orthopaedic group practices in the professional sports arena, and the fellowship was an intensive, highly operative learning experience with many advanced techniques in surgery and clinical diagnosis.”
“The intensive experience working with college and professional football, soccer and basketball players was very exciting,” he added. “To be able to study both the surgical and non-surgical options that are unique to the focused training these athletes endure was invaluable. That fellowship laid a foundation for the continuous sports medicine training and practice with which I’ve been involved these last 10 years.”
Sports medicine involves less invasive techniques in the treatment of joint injuries. These include treatment of injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, rotator cuff repairs, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, and elbow injuries.
The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery process to obtain the subspecialty certification is extensive, and includes a 12-month, 115-operative case review. At least 75 cases must involve arthroscopy. An additional 10 cases must be non-surgical.
Dr. Latimer was offered a position with SOAR in northern California, but chose to return to Roswell because he wanted a smaller community practice. His father was the late Earl A. Latimer, Jr., M.D., who practiced in Roswell for more than 50 years.
A native of Roswell, Dr. Latimer graduated from the University of New Mexico Medical School, where he also did his residency in Orthopaedics. He graduated from Goddard High School, New Mexico Military Institute with an associates degree, and Trinity University with a B.S. in biophysics and chemistry. He has been practicing in Roswell 16 years.
He is married to Kathy, and they have three children: Carter 15, Mitchel 12, and Elizabeth 8.