If you’ve ever wondered what fibroblasts look like when forming scar tissue to repair wounds or are curious about suture techniques used to stabilize tissue grafts, chances are you might come across an illustration by Jessica Latimer, DMSc24, showing the process drawn in precise detail. Latimer, who graduates from HSDM’s Periodontology program this May, has turned a passion for doodling into a serious scientific illustration sideline that has landed her illustrations in well-known medical and dental journals across the country.
“I began to post a few dentistry-inspired drawings on my Instagram account and people took notice,” said Latimer. “Established clinicians started to reach out to me to request assistance in illustrating diagrams that communicated various scientific and clinical concepts in periodontology and implant dentistry.”
Latimer’s Instagram account, “The Perio Artist” now has nearly 20,000 followers and her illustrations can be found in publications such as Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, The Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, and the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry.
“Although it was not my initial intention to build my reputation on scientific illustration, it has allowed me to grow a large social media platform, promote my professional activities, and interface with colleagues from all over the world,” she said.
Latimer also sees her illustrations as a tool to make oral health concepts more understandable to her patients. She looks forward to a career that integrates teaching, research, and patient care as a clinician-scientist. She was drawn to the specialty of periodontology after graduating from dental school at the University of Washington.
“My class received a series of seminars that aimed to expose us to the various dental specialties. A previous HSDM graduate, Bradley Weinstein, DMD08, happened to lecture to my class and showed us some of his clinical cases involving immediate implant provisionalization in the esthetic zone,” said Latimer. “I saw that there was more to dentistry than “just teeth” and my interest was instantly piqued.”
After learning more about the field, and receiving mentorship from other clinician-scientists, Latimer decided to pursue the specialty at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). She joined the Periodontology advanced graduate education program in 2020 and pursued research training as a DMSc degree candidate in Oral Biology.
“HSDM has a legacy of producing some of the greatest periodontists in the history of our profession and during my interview process, I was immediately drawn to the vibrant academic community at the school,” she said.
At HSDM, Latimer has had significant exposure to research working in the Giannobile Laboratory, under the guidance of Dean William Giannobile. The lab explores approaches to rebuilding bone around teeth and dental implants, employing gene delivery to accelerate dental implant osseointegration, and using precision medicine for patient stratification by genetic and epigenetic methods.
“Working in the Dean’s lab has defined my residency and greatly influenced the trajectory of my career,” she said. “As a globally recognized leader with prolific accomplishments in oral health research and education, Dean Giannobile is a mentor with unparalleled expertise, positivity, and vision. He has helped me grow both professionally and personally, trusting me with important responsibilities in our lab and providing me with the support I need to thrive.”
Latimer’s experience in the lab has given her firsthand insight into the scientific process of introducing novel drugs and technologies into patient care. Her scientific curiosity and passion for translational research comes through in her illustrations.
She prepares for each dental procedure illustration, by studying the key concepts involved and referencing clinical photographs. Her drawing process evolved into a way for her to prepare for “2-D surgeries” before learning the concepts in residency.
“This allowed me to familiarize myself with a broad scope of advanced procedures in periodontology, refine my understanding of surgical anatomy, and mentally rehearse each step of the techniques I illustrated. It continues to provide me with a strong theoretical foundation that I apply to treatment planning and surgery to this day.”
After graduation, Latimer looks forward to staying in the Greater Boston area to practice periodontology and maintain academic involvement at HSDM as a faculty member in the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity.
“It has been a pleasure to work with so many outstanding individuals at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and as a result, I have gained many meaningful friendships that I know will last a lifetime.”
