Southwestern Community College student-athlete Kiersten Latham was recently featured on the University of Iowa website, as well as the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital website.

According to the articles, Latham, who is on the Spartan dance team, had pain from hip dysplasia threatening to sideline her from a lifetime of dance performance. With assistance from doctors at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Latham underwent advanced hip-preservation procedures available only at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Following a tedious and emotionally-challenging recovery process from these two separate hip surgeries, Latham is back dancing and enjoying everyday activities she was not able to participate in without pain prior to the operations.

Latham will be competing with the Spartan dance team at the Iowa State Dance & Drill Team Association (ISDTA) State Dance Championships, Dec. 5-6, at Wells Fargo Arena and Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. The Spartan performances are Friday, Dec. 6, at the following locations and times: 11:23 a.m. – Hip Hop, Hy-Vee Hall; 1:37 p.m. – Jazz, Wells Fargo Arena; and 4:16 p.m. – Pom, Wells Fargo Arena.