The recent reminiscences on Dr. Howard Burchell brought to mind several of my own, while a medical resident at the Mayo Clinic from 1966 to 1968.

I was aware of the awe cardiology faculty members and fellows had for him and how (on his own) he would come back to the hospital at night to listen to a patient with an interesting heart murmur.

While on a gastrointestinal rotation, I also recall a patient we had in common, whose gastrointestinal bleeding was subsequently attributed to hereditary telangiectasias. The clue to the latter were lesions on his palms. Dr. Burchell was mad at himself for not looking at both sides of the hands carefully.

I think of him on occasion as a prime example when our new heart institute speaks of the pursuit of excellence in cardiology, and I also remember him when examining the hands of patients I evaluate.