Leading pathologist felt like a detective

Dr. Felipe Serna served as chairman of the pathology department at Edward Hospital in Naperville, during the medical center's biggest growth years, from 1962 to 1996, as the facility grew along with the community.

What had been a small hospital with a medical staff of 30 or so, now has 900 physicians on staff, with as many as seven pathologists.

During much of Dr. Serna's career, he was the only pathologist at the facility, diagnosing everything from types of bacteria or infections in the blood, to biopsies and tissue diagnoses.

Through it all, Dr. Serna earned the respect of his colleagues, and especially of the surgeons who worked directly with him.

"He was a very knowledgeable and skilled pathologist," says Dr. Edgar Quintero, a general surgeon and colleague.

"He was a humble man and one who did not bring any attention to himself," Quintero adds, "but he was very well respected by the surgeons, who often are the most critical, when it came to pathology reports."

Now his colleagues are mourning his loss. Dr. Serna passed away Saturday. The 49-year resident of Naperville, and a former president of the medical staff at Edward Hospital, was 74.

Dr. Serna was in charge of the laboratory and the clinical laboratory at Edward Hospital; consequently much of his time was spent behind a microscope examining slides of specimens and biopsies.

"He always said he felt like a detective," says his wife, Barbara, "working with all the tissue samples and exploring the different cells, and putting it all together to make a diagnosis.

"He was a quiet man," she added, "who loved the study of pathology."

Dr. Serna was born and raised in Mexico, the son and grandson of doctors. He followed his older brothers in pursuing medicine in Chicago, and completed his residency at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. It was there that he met his future wife, working as an emergency room nurse.

Now one of their three children, their son, Dr. Philip Serna, is an internist with the Will County Medical Associates in Joliet.

"My father was involved in the active delivery of health care, of making a diagnosis on the spot, of deciding whether a tumor was benign or malignant for a patient on the operating table," his son says. "His role was crucial."

Dr. Serna's leadership at Edward Hospital won't be forgotten. His photo hangs among other past presidents on the corridor near the entrance of the hospital, near its Education Center.

Besides his wife and son, Dr. Serna is survived by his daughters Ruth Martin and Laura Smith, and 11 grandchildren.

Services have been held.