A rheumatology service in KwaZulu-Natal was initiated in the late 1960’s by Dr WG Neil and was subsequently managed by Dr I Chalmers and later Dr PD Naidoo.

There was a major impetus for the development of rheumatology with the endowment of the Aaron Beare Family Chair of Rheumatology in 1992 and the establishment of the Rheumatology Unit.