Dr. Norman B. Gaylis has donated $1 million to the Rheumatology Research Foundation to fund rheumatologists in community-based practices who want to pursue clinical research to test their own observations and ideas.

The establishment of the Norman B. Gaylis, MD Research Award for Rheumatologists in Community Practice is designed to “stimulate and offer rheumatologists who are in practice an opportunity to be funded … for any form of ideas without having to be concerned about the objectives being predetermined by a third party,” Dr. Gaylis , a rheumatologist in private practice in Aventura, Fla., said in an interview.

Dr. Gaylis noted that many rheumatologists practicing in the community, including him, have been able to conduct research for pharmaceutical companies and thereby have been able to gain experience with new treatments ahead of the marketplace, as well as offer patients new treatments. There have been only limited opportunities for community practice rheumatologists without academic affiliations to obtain support to explore research ideas that are not being investigated by industry, he said.

Early in his career, Dr. Gaylis was able to conduct a self-generated study in which he compared patients’ outcomes on oral versus injectable methotrexate, but “it’s been very difficult to emulate those sorts of studies, especially in today’s environment where there are so many other issues that a clinician has to deal with in regard to managing a practice, dealing with insurance and authorization, getting reimbursement, and so on,” he said.

“Community rheumatologists have a tremendous amount to bring to the table and offer by virtue of their day-to-day experience in treating and managing patients, and unfortunately that isn’t always something that is measured or recognized,” Dr. Gaylis said, adding that he hopes his actions will prompt other rheumatologists who are able to contribute to research grants to do so “in a fashion that they feel would be appropriate.”

Dr. Gaylis is an active member of the Rheumatology Research Foundation and has served as an ambassador for its Within Our Reach campaign’s Leadership Council. He has practiced medicine for 37 years, including more than 34 years in the greater Miami area, and also is a member of the Rheumatology News editorial advisory board.

According to the foundation, rheumatologists will be able to apply for the award beginning in 2016, with the first round of funding given out in 2017.

jevans@frontlinemedcom.com

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