Mind and method of Dr S. K. Raghunath

Modern urology has grown leaps and bounds on the rocksolid foundation of early breakthroughs, whether Philipp Bozzini’s pioneering attempts to make the urethra visible to the naked eye, or Maximililian Nitze’s invention of the cystoscope.

Having said that, there is something discernibly thankless about the very name urology.

The Greek origins of the word simply imply the study (logia) of urine (ouron) but in reality, this breath-taking field encompasses actionable knowledge of the entire internal and external pathology, therapy of the genito-urinary tract, as also adjoining spheres of surgery, dermatology, and internal medicine.

Little surprise that this selfless and self effacing doctor chose, or rather was the ‘chosen one’ for, this pivotal branch of medicine. Unassuming to the core, he wears a benevolent smile on his beaming face even amid the string of surgeries and intricate consultations that happen throughout the day in a steady stream. Again, the catalytic factor that brought us together was none other than Dr. (Inv) Prof Vishal U S Rao.

Dr. S K Raghunath is one of the most sought after uroncologists and robotic surgeons from India, renowned and revered for the wealth of seminal papers, insightful publications, breakthrough research and clinical trials, and a couple of disruptive innovations to his credit. Above all, he is a committed activist and spends siginificant time spreading awareness on urological oncology, broadly five cancers arising from the urinary system – kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostrate cancer, testicular and penile cancer, along with a sixth adrenal cancer.

Very few specialists can spell out the intricacies of their practice areas with such astounding clarity and flexibiity, an audience-friendly elucidation that can be watered down to serve the larger cause of the community, or fleshed out in line with the demands of the fraternity without any loss of translation and transition whatsover, and exactly as per the need.

Healthcare specialists can take a leaf out of his book and master the critical skill of paraphrasing, which seperates the masters from the also rans

"What we drink, eat, and inhale is excreted and stored in the bladder, which has an inescapable impact on the urothelium, or bladder lining," is his preface for the benefit of the public at large before he unfolds common risk factors of cancer like tobacco usage, exposure to carcinogenic fumes, courtesy of toxic industries like leather, dyes, asbestos, coal and tar, or the prolonged use of hair dyes, given the harmful chemical ingredients present in all types and variants.

On the sweltering afternoon, braving a nasty bout of cough and cold, rough weather, and the city’s overwhelming traffic, as I entered his modest cabin, tucked in a small, inconspicuous corner of a sprawling multispeciality hospital in Namma Bengaluru, I could immediately sense, at first sight, his towering conviction and unflinching commitment to serve the larger cause of his profession.

Enamoured by his high intellect and sharp intuition, I was curious to know his life story till date and almost instinctively put my fingers in the {big money-deprived} ‘deep’ pockets of my faded jeans to take out a writing pad and pen, two essentials I had borrowed from my hotel room, in anticipation of a need purely based on gut feel.

Without much ado, and bursting at the seams of child-like enthusiasm, Dr. Raghunath spoke at length in a flurry that exhausted the ink of my pen and the pages of the writing pad, but not his story.

The rest of the inspiring narrative is being dispatched in short and sweet WhatsApp instalments, a delightful work in progress happening in line with the demands of his hectic OT and OPD time, as also his travel for symposiums and paper presentations.???????

Hope to bring it out in all its splendour in good time!