Valentine N. Nfonsam, MD, MS, FACS

Valentine N. Nfonsam, MD, MS, FACS, is an associate professor with the University of Arizona Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Section of Surgical Oncology. He specializes in colon and rectal surgery, colorectal oncology, and complex pelvic floor disorders.

Dr. Nfonsam performs surgeries for inflammatory bowel disease, anorectal disease, and benign and malignant colorectal diseases. He is an expert in the surgical management of pelvic floor disease, especially fecal incontinence. He also performs colonoscopies and endoscopic treatment of polyps. Dr. Nfonsam is one of just a few surgeons in the nation using minimally invasive techniques for colon and rectal surgery, such as advanced laparoscopy, single-incision surgery, and robot-assisted surgery, which have been shown to reduce the patient’s wound infection rate, post-operative pain, length of stay in the hospital, and overall recovery time.

A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, Dr. Nfonsam completed his surgery residency training at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in New Hyde Park, New York. During his surgical training, he completed a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) research fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Nfonsam comes to the University of Arizona from the University of South Florida, Tampa, where he completed a two-year fellowship in colon and rectal surgery. He has taught a course in total mesorectal excision (TME) in rectal cancer treatment, which is an essential component in the management of rectal cancer.

Dr. Nfonsam’s research focuses on colorectal cancer in young patients, inflammatory bowel disease, and the management of pelvic floor disorders. He has published articles on his research in peer-reviewed journals and has presented at national and international meetings.

Degrees

• MD: University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, 2003