If I die today...

Since the beginning of my life as a physician, I spent my time with Hernán Doval.

While it would be great to list all the positions he has held, his achievements in care, research, teaching and medical innovation to describe him, it would be insufficient.

I cannot imagine seeing his face in a photograph in front of a wall covered with diplomas, degrees, and certificates. It was not his style.

Unfortunately, we all have an inexorable destiny, which, as the popular saying states, is the only sure thing in life.

While I was trying to write these lines, a question came to my mind: if I die today..., how would I like to be remembered by my colleagues?

Surely, I hope no one will have doubts about my honesty in my medical performance, and as Mai- monides’ prayer says, no one will think I was guided by thirst for profit or ambition for renown.

I want to be remembered as a trainer of young car- diologists, and I hope that in time they will recognize me as their teacher in the profession.

I hope they have perceived that I was tenacious and sometimes even stubborn when I defended an idea, and that I was called upon to make the final de- cision to solve a complex case.

I want to be remembered as a person capable of go- ing against the tide and of moving away from the flock to opt for a different, original opinion.

A prudent person to analyze so much novel infor- mation ignoring the trends and pressures we face.

A person who always keeps the enthusiasm alive when young doctors bring new ideas and support them in their projects.

I want to be remembered as a man who encourag- es the concept that doubt is the cornerstone, not only in philosophy, but also in medicine, and that raising doubt and exploring it should be our daily challenge.

I hope my colleagues will remember the frequent comments on history, politics or literature, which, be- yond the practical aspect that allows us to get closer to the patients, enrich us, move us away from a merely technical role and bring us closer to being a more com- plete person.

That social issues and medicine as a tool for equity should be a point of interest in decisions.

How would I like to be remembered by patients?

I want to be remembered as someone who listens to them, generates trust, knows their interests and will undoubtedly try to solve their problems.

These paragraphs are far from referring to me per- sonally, because I do not meet all these conditions, but they are truly my wishes and my goals, which in part, I must admit, were an attempt to be like Hernán, be- cause we always want to be like our mentors.

The doctor we are saying farewell to has fulfilled all the requirements I have mentioned, and I believe that those who have known him will share this opin- ion. I have no doubt that this list, although succinct, defines his figure.

Fundamentally, we will remember him as a Master of Medicine and one of the founders of what I consider the school of cardiology at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires.