James H. Kurtz, DO

"I went into medicine with the goal of helping people," says James Kurtz, D.O. "I chose surgery because I like to work with my hands and I am fascinated by the intricacies of the human body. The most important role I have as a physician is to deconstruct complex problems and relay all useful information to the patient so that we can create a shared decision-making process."

Dr. Kurtz believes the patient is at the center of every decision he makes. He aims to treat a patient as he would his own family. His goal is to perform the least amount of surgery that will be effective to fix the problem. This includes minimally invasive approaches (laparoscopic or robotic) and enhanced recovery protocols to get you back to your baseline as quickly and safely as possible.

Dr. Kurtz received his medical degree from Rocky Vista University College in Colorado and completed his residency at Ohio Health Doctors Hospital in Ohio. He then went on to complete a fellowship at Methodist Richardson Medical Center in Texas. Dr. Kurtz is board certified in general surgery.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Dr. Kurtz believes this instilled his "blue-collar" work ethic. In his free time he enjoys playing recreational soccer, playing the guitar and singing. His wife is a Portland native and his family is excited to be in the Pacific Northwest.