Curtis had an outstanding national and international reputation as a scholar. His investigative work focused on end-of-life and palliative care with the goal of improving the care for people with terminal conditions by improving the patient clinician communication about end-of-life care and the integration of palliative care in the ICU setting.
He received countless awards throughout his career, including the Robert Evans Award for understanding, compassion and concern for others, the Philip J. Fialkow Scholars Award, Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Thoracic Society, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Award for Excellence in Scientific Research in Palliative Care, Sojourn Award for Leadership in Palliative Care, Health Care Practitioner of the Year Award from Seattle Magazine, Paul B. Beeson Award for outstanding clinical teaching, Lifetime Achievement Award and Mentoring Award by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, William J. Bremner Endowed Mentorship Award, Outstanding Clinician Award from the American Thoracic Society, Hastings Center Cuniff-Dixon Physician Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Assembly on Critical Care.