Christopher S. Lathan, MD, MS, MPH

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Academic Titles

Associate Professor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Research Program Affiliation

Member, Lung Cancer

Leadership Roles

Deputy Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement

Physician Liaison, Initiative to Eliminate Cancer Disparities

Deputy Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement, Executive Committee

Member, Center Scientific Council

Research Abstract

Dr. Lathan’s primary research interests have centered on addressing the impact of systemic barriers, on improving access to high quality cancer diagnostics and treatments for communities most burdened with the disease. He maintains a clear focus on broadening the pathways to early diagnosis and ensuring the distribution of new treatment across populations. Dr. Lathan and his team aim to bridge the gap between research efforts in cancer therapeutics, and the realities of clinical care by developing innovative, patient focused interventions that are integrated within the clinical health care delivery system. He remains an active clinical medical oncologist, treating lung cancer patients both in the academic center and in the community.

Dr. Lathan is the inaugural Christopher and Constance Hadley Family Chair at Dana Farber, and he serves as the Dana-Farber’s Chief Clinical Access Officer. He is the Founding Director of Dana-Farber’s Cancer Care Access Program. Established in 2010, CCAP developed an outreach clinic that aids in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer for patients at Federally Qualified Health Centers, as well as a community-focused navigation program for newly diagnosed patients originating from local neighborhoods. His research and systems work converge on the purpose of improving system wide efforts to broaden access to cancer care for communities utilizing human touch, system integration and high technology approaches.