Dr. Jack Leroy Sales grew up in Southwestern Ontario farm country in the 1930s. He elected to pursue a career in medicine instead of becoming a concert pianist. Hard work on the 250-acre family farm and long hours of piano practice prepared Jack well for the rigors of medical school and eventually a distinguished career as a urologic surgeon.
Dr. Sales graduated from medical school at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) in 1955 and then pursued surgery and urology training at UWO and University of Toronto respectively, working under several renowned urologists, including Drs. David Mitchell, Charles Robson, William Kerr, and Lloyd McAninch (all past CUA Presidents). Following a McLaughlin Travelling Fellowship, where Jack further honed his urological expertise under Drs. Wyland Leadbetter, Victor Marshall, Albert Paquin, and William Wallace Scott, Dr. Sales started his urology practice at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, ON, and UWO, rising to the rank of Associate Professor. With Dr. Sales’ expertise and interest in the then burgeoning field of endourology and percutaneous urolithiasis management, along with colleague Dr. John Denstedt, St. Joseph’s Health Centre became a major tertiary referral center for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and endourology stone management for Ontario.
As Secretary, and then President of the Northeastern Section of the American Urological Association (NSAUA), Jack was instrumental in establishing research and scholarship programs for the section, helping young urologists and trainees from Canada and the U.S. in the NSAUA to further their careers. For 10 years, Jack also served as the Canadian consultant on the AUA Socioeconomics Committee. Dr. Sales was recognized with the NSAUA’s Distinguished Service Award and was also made an Honorary Member of the AUA.
Dr. Sales subsequently duplicated his fundraising efforts while serving as the CUA Treasurer. Together with colleague, Dr. Normand Sullivan (past CUA President from Ste. Anne de Sorel, QC), they raised significant sums for the CUA Scholarship Foundations. The CUA Scholarship has helped many young urologists and researchers embark on successful academic careers.
A highlight of Dr. Sales career was serving as the CUA President in 1999, proudly hosting the annual CUA meeting in London, ON. One of the most memorable CUA “Fun Nights” was Dr. Sales and his wife Helen hosting the entire delegation at their home. One of the international guest speakers, Dr. Urs Studer (Bern, Switzerland), a widely sought-after lecturer, declared that in all his globe-trotting travels to countless national urology meetings, he had never seen such incredible hospitality by an association president.
The CUA Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest award bestowed by the CUA on its members, was awarded to Dr. Sales in 2003, in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the association and to Canadian urology. Even after retiring from clinical practice, he remained engaged with the CUA and regularly attended annual meetings, including last year’s event in Charlottetown, PEI.
Dr. Sales was an excellent surgeon and surgical teacher, possessing ambidexterity, gracefulness, and meticulous but efficient surgical techniques. He always strived for surgical perfection from himself and his trainees. The qualities he demanded from his residents were focus, intellectual honesty, dedication, and aim for excellence. Close to 100 former residents, when faced with a challenging surgical problem, to this day, would remind themselves, “What would Dr. Sales do now?”
Dr. Sales (seated, center) surrounded by several CUA Past Presidents. Photo taken at the 2022 CUA annual meeting in Charlottetown, PEI.
Dr Sales also served on the Royal College Urology Examination Committee. With a keep mind always ready to learn new skills and concepts and for self-improvement, he declared he was much invigorated by being an examiner for the first time and learned a lot from the academic and pedagogical process!
Jack was also a firm believer in the importance of being active in organized urology and he derived great satisfaction in promoting and mentoring former trainees to leadership positions in various urological organizations.
Outside of the urban academic environment, true to his “small-town” roots, Jack was passionate about supporting rural community hospitals. He conducted an ambulatory clinic in several Southwestern Ontario towns into his 80s, providing much needed general urological care to very appreciative patients in the region.
Dr. Sales had an enormous influence on a generation of urological trainees. His impact on their careers will be an enduring legacy for all those fortunate enough to have trained under him.
– Submitted by Joseph L. Chin, John D. Denstedt, & Hassan Razvi
Footnotes
CUAJ honors its members and friends who have passed away. We invite colleagues of the deceased to submit brief remembrances. Please limit your notice to 200 words. Send your notice to journal@cua.org or fax it to 514-395-1664.