Rheumatologist Joy-Ann Tabanor-Gayle, M.D., Joins Stormont Vail Health
Growing up in Jamaica, Dr. Tabanor-Gayle volunteered much of her time to community service. Through that service, she found a love for health care. Following high school she began medical school where she quickly discovered a passion for rheumatology.
“Often times when a patient is told they need to see a rheumatologist, it’s for a diagnosis that sounds very scary,” Dr. Tabanor-Gayle said. “I enjoy being able to help patients navigate and understand their diagnosis and treatment plan, partnering with them to help improve their quality of life.”
Dr. Tabanor-Gayle received her medical degree at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, in 2011. She completed her internal medicine residency at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Englewood, New Jersey, in 2017, and completed her rheumatology fellowship at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, in 2019.
For Dr. Tabanor-Gayle, a key factor for patients when selecting a provider should be the ability to open up and build a relationship.
“Many rheumatic diseases are chronic medical illnesses that require a lifetime partnership with your provider, so finding someone you can build that relationship with is key,” Dr. Tabanor-Gayle said. “I want patients to leave my office feeling empowered to make decisions about their health care, which can also affect their families, friends and job.”
When not in the clinic, Dr. Tabanor-Gayle enjoys trying new restaurants and taking in live theater productions with her spouse.
About Stormont Vail Health:
Stormont Vail Health is a nonprofit integrated health system that has been serving the health care needs of Kansas for more than 130 years. It is composed of Stormont Vail Hospital, a 586-bed acute care hospital, and Cotton O’Neil Clinic, a multi-specialty physician group with more than 500 providers, which includes more than 250 physicians. Nearly 5,100 employees provide care and support services for patients in the hospital and 35 other locations, including the Cotton O’Neil Heart Center, Cancer Center, Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, Digestive Health Center, Pediatrics clinics and 10 regional primary care clinics. Stormont Vail Health is committed to its mission of improving the health of the community by being a national leader in providing compassionate, high-quality and efficient integrated care through collaboration that results in a healthier community.
