As a 12-year-old camper in the summer of 1968, I was my cabin’s nominee for the title of Guru of Camp Chi, 3rd Session. I ran a strong campaign, with a catchy jingle based on “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Sadly I lost in a heated battle with a candidate from another cabin. As was customary way back then, I graciously conceded the election to my opponent, without asking for a vote recount. However, I never returned to Camp Chi.

I haven’t thought about being a Guru in the 53 years since then. People who weren’t alive in the 1960s may ask “What is a guru?” Webster’s has several definitions for the word, including “a personal religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism,” and “a person with knowledge or expertise.” Definitely an honorable thing to be. So I was quite surprised (and quite pleased) to have that appellation given to me the other morning.

Dr. M, one of our more senior urologists had stopped by to introduce his young new associate to the corporate and laboratory team at our facility. I gave the two physicians my standard lab tour, one that I have been giving to new employees of our group for years–a little lab history, a bit of explanation of our lab processes, and some back-patting of our staff. Fifteen minutes of time, and a chance to put a nice shine on the lab’s place in the corporate hierarchy.

As the tour moved from histology to chemistry, from cytology/FISH to our new molecular studies lab, Dr. M became more and more effusive about how excellent the lab was, and how we were the glue that held the group together. I was certainly smiling behind my mask.

And then came Dr. M’s final pronouncement. “Les is the Guru of Chicago prostate pathologists.”

OK, Chicago prostate pathologists are not the biggest set of which to be Guru. The network of Chicago area pathologists who do mostly urologic pathology isn’t enormous. But between all the university medical centers, the giant private hospital systems, and a few big commercial labs in the area, there are a lot of great pathologists and lots of prostate biopsies being analyzed. But yes, I probably see more prostate biopsies than anyone else in the metro areas — 18,000 prostate cases seen under my microscope over the last 15 years would be my best guess.

But I think Dr. M’s comment about “Guruness” was meant as more than just a comment on the number of cases I have seen through the years. I hope he was summing up that along with my associates, I have helped our large urology group provide sterling health care to our patients throughout Chicagoland. That is certainly our goal, and it’s good to know the lab is appreciated.

And after more than 50 years, I am proud to say I am finally a Guru. But I still don’t think I am ever going back to Camp Chi!

The opinions above are those of the author and not necessarily UroPartners LLC.

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