Real Patients. Real Stories.
At Conemaugh Health System, we put patient care first. We know that every patient is a valuable member of the community we serve. View our patient stories below, where you can hear firsthand accounts of the quality care you will receive at Conemaugh Health System.
![D'Arcy Duke,MD, Kevin Kassick, Jessica Custer, NP](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/dr._duke-kevin_jesse_dsc_1119_1.jpg)
‘It’s a story that many people need to hear’
June 20, 2024
At 6-foot-3-inches, Kevin Kassick was always a big, athletic guy. But after the awful combination of a debilitating back injury – suffered while working as a laborer for a cement manufacturer – and an out-of-control diet, his weight ballooned to nearly 380 pounds. In addition to his ailing back, everything else began...
read more![](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/eric_hetrick_cardiac_patientdsc_7232.jpg)
‘They help me stay healthy, out of the hospital and living my life’
May 22, 2024
He had his first heart attack at age 29. Since then, he has had 11 heart stents, and “coded” four times.
read more![](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/cindy_nimitz_1.jpg)
‘I’m one of their happiest walking, talking success stories’
April 30, 2024
She just arrived home after a long, tough day at work. But she immediately knew something was wrong. Very wrong.
read more![](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/westernpennsylvaniabariatricinstitute.com.png)
'They’ve made me a believer and I’m never going to look back'
April 17, 2024
Not too many vacations ago, it was a severe chore for Bethany Cotchen to walk back and forth from the beach. But no longer.
read more![](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/5.png)
“I feel great now. I’m able to do my job and live the way I want.”
April 4, 2024
Before his gastric bypass operation, Patrick Doepfer despised his job. But now, Patrick looks forward to those long walks – after reducing his weight by 42 percent he now weighs 295 pounds.
read more![Steve Brant and his three border collies.](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/steve_brant.jpg)
"I’m fine and loving life again."
March 26, 2024
He was feeling well and enjoying retirement. The colonoscopy would only be a bump in the road… until it wasn’t.
read more![Irmarie Soto](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/irmarie_soto1.jpg)
"Cancer was the last thing on my mind."
March 21, 2024
She knew the moment the doctor walked into the room that it was bad news. Last May’s colorectal-cancer prognosis was sudden, unexpected and shocking for Irmarie Soto-Ortiz.
read more![](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/4.png)
"I love the person I've become."
March 18, 2024
When it comes to weight loss, Kim Washington feels like she has “climbed to the mountain top and can see where I came from and where I need to go to stay healthy.”
read more![](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/3ada9ed9-fda8-4363-96f8-90a384857fa8.jpg)
‘Jump on it – before it jumps on you’
March 7, 2024
Life is good for the former sand quarry worker. But he’s convinced it might not be that way if not for taking a colon-cancer screening test.
read more![](/sites/conemaugh/assets/posts/cardiovascular_testimonial_web_photo.jpg)
Cardiovascular Care - A Heartbeat Away
February 16, 2024
Join us in celebrating Cindy Nimitz, Erik Hetrick, and Merle Miller who received life-saving cardiovascular care at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center.
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