Dr. John Latz, MD is the Medical Director for Specialty Populations at Monarch, where he provides clinical leadership for crisis services supporting individuals with complex behavioral health needs, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and co-occurring behavioral health and/or substance use disorders. With more than 34 years of clinical experience, Dr. Latz brings deep expertise in psychiatry, crisis intervention, and integrated care for high-acuity populations.
A native of Texas, Dr. Latz earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio before completing a masterās degree at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He received his medical degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. First licensed in 1992, he is board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology and has practiced across a wide range of settings, including private practice for more than three decades, inpatient psychiatric services in both nonprofit and for-profit systems, and leadership roles within the state hospital system, where he served as Associate Chief Medical Officer.
At Monarch, Dr. Latz supports the development and operation of crisis service models that emphasize person-centered care, clinical integration, and cross-system coordination for individuals with complex needs. His work focuses on improving access, stabilization, and long-term outcomes while reducing unnecessary emergency utilization.
Outside of his professional work, Dr. Latz is married with four adult children and is eagerly awaiting his first grandchild. He and his wife are āgentleman farmersā in Catawba, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, where they enjoy caring for their horses and other assorted critters. He is also an active member of the local amateur (ham) radio emergency communications community and assisted with first-in supply coordination and the establishment of a field hospital following Hurricane Helene.
At the Open Minds Strategy & Innovation Institute, Dr. Latz will share practical clinical insights and strategies for treating individuals with I/DD and co-occurring behavioral health and/or substance use disorders, with a focus on navigating care complexity, coordinating across systems, and building effective, sustainable crisis service models.