Norman Gaylis

Dr Norman Gaylis

Dr Norman Gaylis is a Rheumatologist and President of Arthritis & Rheumatic Disease Specialties in Miami, Florida, where he has lived since he emigrated from South Africa in 1976. He has two sons, 3 grandchildren all who live within 10 miles of him. He has a wonderful partner Joanne who he met 25 years ago in Miami, and they live with their family of boxer dogs, “Zuma and Shakes”.

After graduating from WITS Medical School in 1973, he was a registrar in the Johannesburg General Hospital System before moving to Miami where he became board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology at the University of Miami. He was a Clinical Associate Professor at the University from 1990-2004 and is still actively involved in teaching his specialty.

He is recognized as one of the country’s leaders in the field of arthritis and autoimmune disorders and has lectured and presented numerous scientific papers at medical meetings around the world. He is the author of numerous research articles on rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and is actively involved in ongoing clinical research trials. He has been the Principal Investigator studying a variety of arthritis drugs and other autoimmune treatments in over 150 clinical trials. One of his more recent articles has just been published in the prestigious medical journal “Lancet” on Vagus Stimulation in patients with refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis (Lancet July 28, 2020).

In addition to his clinical practice, he was the past President of the Florida Society of Rheumatology, a Founder and Past President of the International Society of Imaging in Rheumatology (ISEMIR), and is an active member of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) on which he is currently serving as a Board member. He is a recipient of many awards and honors, and, in particular, in 2017, he was the recipient of the MASTER of the ACR Designation. Recognition as a Master is one of the highest honors that the College bestows on its distinguished members.

He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, has been a guest and consultant on multiple television news shows and for many years hosted the radio talk show HEALTH TALK in South Florida. He is currently on the editorial Board of Rheumatology News for which he has contributed many articles. He is active in philanthropic work in Miami and in Israel and as part of his commitment to clinical research, he has recently established an endowment (Norman B Gaylis, MD Research Award for Rheumatologists in Community Practice) for the Rheumatology Research Foundation to award annually for the exclusive support of research by rheumatologists in clinical practice. He strongly believes in the benefits of clinical research breaking the ground for new treatments and the viability of rheumatologists in the future of healthcare.

"All in all, I continue to feel passionate and grateful about my work and am extremely thankful for being blessed by having my loved ones so close to me.” He continues to love going to work after starting his day with a swim in the ocean, and he hopes to continue to be excited and innovative in the explosive world of Rheumatology for many years to come.

He attended King David for 12 years from 1958 to 1967 and has fond memories of his classmates many of whom he is still friends with and communicates with on a regular basis.