Further information: The Work of Howard Burchell

Biography

Howard B. Burchell, MD, was born in Athens, Ontario, Canada in 1907. He received his MD degree from the University of Toronto in 1932, and subsequently continued his training at Toronto General Hospital, the University of Pittsburgh, the Mayo Graduate School, and the London Hospital Medical School and Heart Hospital in England. After World War II, during which Dr. Burchell served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, he returned to the Mayo Clinic as a consultant, ultimately becoming Professor of Medicine. In 1968, Dr. Burchell was appointed Chief of Cardiology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, a position he held until his official retirement in 1975. Currently, Dr. Burchell is Professor Emeritus of Medicine and an active participant in the medical academic life of the Minneapolis/St. Paul community. Teaching and writing with a central theme of sound scientific thought have been hallmarks of Dr. Burchell's career. In 1973, he wrote "Science in any age has stood accused of being irrelevant, or even inimical to social progress…, however, to dismiss science as largely irrelevant in the education of the physician is to open doors to another dark age of medicine." Certainly these words anticipated current difficulties with both diminishing national interest in supporting scientific research and evolving corporate medical practice. Dr. Burchell was Editor-In-Chief of Circulation from 1965 to 1970, a tenure marked by rapid advances in cardiac pacing and electrophysiology. In regard to the latter, he took an active interest in bringing to publication landmark work in our field, ranging from early clinical His bundle recordings to the pathology and physiology of the cardiac conduction system. Even now, Dr. Burchell prowls medical libraries, carefully examining the latest published work, alerting his friends to important new insights, and often providing thoughtful written criticisms and challenging questions directly to the authors. His own bibliography exceeds 400 publications, ranging in topics from changes in the form of the beating mammalian heart to treatment of preexcitation syndromes. Dr. Burchell and his colleagues set the stage for the ablation of accessory AV connections, and ultimately led to the current era of interventional cardiac electrophysiology. During his career, Dr. Burchell has received many honors, including the James B. Herrick Award from the American Heart Association - Minnesota Affiliate in 1988. His contributions to medical science and education, his personal warmth and generosity have left him with a worldwide community of friends. Further, he has been blessed with Margaret, a lifetime spouse and partner as elegant and brilliant as himself. In 1987, I wrote, "As a teacher, scientist, critic, and friend, Dr. Burchell is much admired worldwide and his guidance deeply appreciated by those who have had the opportunity to work with him."

- David G. Benditt, MD

Interview Excerpts

Early work under the influence of Dr. Arlie Barnes. (3:05 sec.; Real Audio)

The three most significant things learned from esophageal ECG studies.(2:40 sec.; Real Audio)

Interest and experience with the effects of potassium ions. (3:03 sec.; Real Audio)

On being a scientific editor. (3:12 sec.; Real Audio)

Excerpted from this interview:
Interviewer: Ronald E. Vlietstra, MD
Date: June 12, 1997
Place: Rochester, Minnesota
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