Dr. Richard Fortunato, FACS, FASCRS

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Get to know Colorectal Surgeon Dr. Richard Fortunato, who serves patients throughout the State of Pennsylvania.

Having been in practice since 2010, Dr. Fortunato is a board-certified colorectal surgeon who offers comprehensive colorectal health care services for benign and cancerous colorectal conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, anorectal conditions, and pelvic floor issues. 

Operating out of Allegheny General Hospital, he is the Associate Program Director of the General Surgery Residency & the Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship. He also treats patients at West Penn Hospital, Allegheny Valley Hospital, Canonsburg Hospital, Forbes Hospital, ACMH Hospital, Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion, AGH Colon and Rectal Surgery (Monaca), and AGH Colon and Rectal Surgery (Wexford).

Offering same-day appointments, Dr. Fortunato uses minimally invasive robotic, laparoscopic, and transanal surgery — often through a single small incision — to treat colorectal cancer, inflammatory disease, rectal prolapse, diverticulitis, and more. In addition, he offers state-of-the-art treatment for fecal incontinence, complex rectovaginal fistulas, pilonidal disease, hemorrhoids, and other problems.

In regards to his educational background, Dr. Fortunato graduated with his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2003. He completed his residency in general surgery at West Penn Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He then completed a colon and rectal fellowship at Louisiana State University/ Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport.

Changing patients’ lives for the better, he is board-certified in colon & rectal surgery by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. It is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties that issues certificates for practitioners of colorectal surgery.

With a strong academic interest, Dr. Fortunato holds many positions in both national and international colon and rectal cancer societies. He is a Fellow in the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons – where he holds several board positions. He is also a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

Colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. The field is also known as proctology, but this term is now used infrequently within medicine and is most often employed to identify practices relating to the anus and rectum in particular. A colorectal surgeon is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of anorectal and colorectal conditions (conditions of the colon, rectum, and anus).

Throughout his line of work, Dr. Fortunato has written numerous journal articles, book chapters, and academic appointments. He was also the co-editor for the World Journal of Colorectal Surgery for many years.

Among his various accolades include On-Time Doctor Award (2018, 2014) and Patients’ Choice Award (2018).

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