Karol Rogawski retires today after 28 years as a consultant urologist at CHFT and 43 years as a medical doctor. He departs with very happy memories of all the support from all his colleagues, and of his patients.

He recalls: “A patient of mine recognised me while visiting a chocolate museum in Brussels and I was stopped by a lady accompanied by her daughter on a street in Halifax who happily told me “She is here thanks to you”.

He says he is retiring with “trepidation and reluctance” as “it has been a way of life, a lifestyle and not just a job.“ He adds: “I have met thousands of people, including patients, their families, nurses, doctors and all supporting staff and all have contributed to my great career satisfaction from a junior doctor to a senior consultant.”

He said he will miss all his patients and colleagues and now plans to pursue his hobbies of tracing his family history going back 500 years, including a relative in the 315 Squadron (Polish Fighter Squadron) during WW2. He also plans to learn French and visit relatives and friends on four continents.

Mr Rogawski was appointed as a consultant urologist in Halifax in August 1995 and he has played an important role in developing urology in the Trust. 

Together with now-retired Mr Julian Somerville, he set up a range of nurse-led clinics for men with prostate conditions, endoscopic follow-up of bladder cancers, a single stop hematuria/endoscopy clinic as well as a a clinic for men with symptoms of erectile dysfunction. 

Since 1997, a unique Joint Male Fertility Clinic in collaboration with Mr Martin de Bono, has been a real success providing  an opportunity for childless couples to be clinically assessed by a urologist and a gynaecologist at the same visit and this service continues with Dr Susan Jacob at Yorkshire Fertility.

Outside clinical practice, he was a Clinical Lead in Urology and then a Clinical Director in General and Specialist Surgery for six years and an interim Clinical Director for the ENT for two years.

We wish him well!