Geriatric Dermatology

Robert Norman

Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Nova Southeastern University ,Tampa, FL, USA

Dr. Robert Norman, known as "Rob" to family and friends, passed away on February 14, 2025. He had an illustrious career as clinician and academician and brought the field of dermatology to great heights.

He began by following in the footsteps of his uncle, Dr. Erwin Gutowitz, his mentor in medicine. He pursued a degree as a Doctor of Osteopathy, initially in family medicine, later specializing in dermatology. He practiced dermatology in Tampa since 1994. Besides his dermatology outpatient practice, he provided dermatological care to nursing home residents and assisted living facility patients, typically at the bedside. During the COVID-19 years, he and his provider staff served about 550 nursing homes statewide in Florida.

His passion for the geriatric population and his dedication to help older adults inspired him to write several books in the field of Geriatric Dermatology, many utilized in medical schools today. His love for teaching brought hundreds of students to his office to shadow and learn from him. He was a superb speaker in numerous settings including national societies and organizations.

His enjoyment of the practice of medicine was matched by his love for writing, having authored hundreds of articles and numerous published books, many as Editor. A sample selection of textbooks edited by Dr. Norman include: the current work, Geriatric Dermatology (Major Reference Work, Springer, 2026, co-edited with T.S. Dharmarajan, MD); Geriatric Dermatology (2020); Integrative Dermatology (2014); Atlas of Geriatric Dermatology (2013); Clinical Cases in Geriatric Dermatology (2013); Preventive Dermatology (2010); The Blue Man and Other Stories of the Skin (2014); and others. The initiative to publish this major reference work on Geriatric Dermatology was his idea and a fitting tribute to a glorious career in publications.

For many years, he participated in medical missions with the Hillsborough County Osteopathic Society in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. During his tenure as president of the society, he established the Ken Webster Scholarship Award. His love for photography was profound. He created an annual calendar for his patients and canvas prints of his favorite photos to gift to patients or donate to nursing homes, providing beautiful landscapes for enjoyment.

His zest for life extended beyond medicine, writing, nature, and photography. He had a deep love for music, wrote lyrics, and played the harmonica.

His passing has created a big void in the lives and hearts of all those who knew him, including family, friends, colleagues, patients, and the co-editor of this work. He was a talented clinician and academician, a fantastic dermatologist, and above all a great human being.

T. S. Dharmarajan, MD,MACP, FRCPE,AGSF

Vice Chairman, Medicine and Clinical Director,

Geriatric Medicine

Montefiore Medical Center, Wakefield Campus

Bronx, NY, USA

Professor of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Bronx, NY, USA

Adjunct Professor of Medicine

New York Medical College

Valhalla, NY, USA

T. S. Dharmarajan, MD, is the Vice-Chairman, Department of Medicine and Clinical Director, Division of Geriatrics at Montefiore Medical Center (Wakefield Campus) Bronx, a University Hospital of Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM), Bronx, New York. He is Professor of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, and Adjunct Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York. He was formerly Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, and Chairman, Department of Medicine, at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, until its transition to Montefiore Medical Center.

He is certified by the American Boards in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Geriatric Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Geriatrics Society (AGSF), Master of the American College of Physicians (MACP), and Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh (FRCPE).

He was instrumental in developing a reputable inpatient geriatric medicine program at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in the Bronx (currently Montefiore Medical Center), with clinical, academic, and research components, including a fully accredited fellowship program (for 10 fellows) in Geriatrics, and was the Program Director from 1993 to 2024.

He co-edited the textbook Clinical Geriatrics (CRC Press/Parthenon Publishing) released in 2003. His second textbook, Geriatric Gastroenterology (Springer), co-edited with CS Pitchumoni, was released in July 2012; he authored over 20 chapters in the book, which became a best seller in the Springer category of text books. Based on its success, he next co-edited Geriatric Gastroenterology, a Major Reference Work (Springer), a three-volume, comprehensive work, released in 2021. He is Co-Editor of Geriatric Dermatology, a Major Reference Work by Springer, expected release in 2026. His publications in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks exceed 200; he has presented over 600 scientific (abstracts) in county, state, national, and international meetings. He has been a Principal Investigator for several research and quality improvement projects, including national multicentre studies for the AMDA Foundation. His work on Deprescribing is well recognized. He won the Howard Gutterman Award for best research project in the National Annual AMDA meeting (2006); several abstracts were winners in county, state, or national society meetings. At Montefiore, he received the first prize for best Clinical Science Paper published in 2016 and the second prize in 2019. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at New York City in April 2019 and in the same year received Recognition for Leadership and Community Services from Montefiore at the tenth Anniversary celebrations.

He has been a regular speaker at local, national, and international meetings and for community events. Some of his many recognitions in Medicine include: "Teacher of the Year"; "Peer to Peer" recognition by the Bronx County Society; Dedication as Teacher and Mentor to young Physicians in the Bronx (from American Assn. of Physicians of Indian origin); and Unparalleled Leadership in the Medical Community for Medicine and Research (from the Bronx County Society). In 2013, he was featured on the cover of AgingWell magazine, as one of five noteworthy geriatricians.

He was the President of the Montefiore Physician Council, Wakefield Campus, for 5 years until 2015, and a former Member of the Board of Trustees at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center.