Dr. Curfman Selected for Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship

Conemaugh Health System announced today that Karleigh Curfman, MD has been selected for a highly competitive fellowship position in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Louisiana State University (LSU).

Securing the only position offered, Dr. Curfman will be studying with a team of renowned faculty at the University Medical Center New Orleans, LA.

“I am sad to briefly leave our community, but I am excited for the opportunity I’ll receive to work on new techniques and improve our management options for colorectal diseases, such as cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s, Ulcerative colitis, and rectal prolapse. Additionally, I am hoping to learn skills to enhance our treatment of anorectal diseases, including hemorrhoids, fissures, fistula, and dysplasia. By doing additional training, I look forward to broadening the resources and increasing the complexity of care that we can offer to our local community here at Conemaugh.”

Dr. Curfman is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive approaches to colon and rectal cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rectal prolapse. She brings state-of-the-art robotic procedures to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center to treat these different diseases allowing for less pain and quicker recovery. She is currently the only physician in our area to perform several colorectal and anorectal procedures robotically, as well as provide many modern updates on traditional surgical procedures.

Dr. Curfman earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Ross University of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica, West Indies. She completed a residency in general surgery at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, PA, and a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at MultiCare Health System in Tacoma, WA.

She recently performed Conemaugh’s first robotic TAMIS (trans anal minimally invasive surgery), used to resect superficial rectal lesions, masses, or cancers without opening the abdomen and cutting the lesion out.  TAMIS allows for minimal pain, shorter recovery times, and quicker rectal function.   

Additionally, Dr. Curfman is the only physician in the area performing a LIFT (litigation of inter sphincteric fistula tract) procedure; a novel technique for treating anal fistula that avoids cutting the anal sphincter.