Dr. Payam Azali

Dr. Payam Azali is a Consultant Rheumatologist at Medcare Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital. He completed his MBBS (Doctor of Medicine) from the Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and MD in Rheumatology from Karolinska Institutet Danderyds Sjukhus (KIDS), Sweden. He also holds a postgraduate degree in Science (MSc) from Sweden. He has a Swiss Board Certification in Rheumatology and is Certified in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound – EULAR online, Swedish Society of Rheumatology and Swedish Rheumatologic Ultrasound (Svenska RUL). He is a member of the Swedish Society for Rheumatology (Svensk Reumatologisk Förening), the Emirates Society for Rheumatology (ESR), the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) and the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR).

Dr. Azali has worked across Iran, Europe and the UAE. He began his career as a Resident in Anesthesiology at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. He then did a five-year postgraduate specialist course at the Karolinska Institute, Danderyd University Hospital, and Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. He served as the Head of the Rheumatology Department at Danderyd University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden and continues to work remotely as a Senior Consultant Rheumatologist at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. During his training and career at Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, he gained extensive expertise in managing complex rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and implemented advanced clinical pathways for early arthritis and vasculitis care. He is certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound diagnostics by the Swedish Society for Rheumatology and Swedish Rheumatologic Ultrasound (Svenska RUL), and continues to apply this in clinical practice. After moving to the UAE, he worked as a Consultant Rheumatologist at Burjeel Hospital and Health Bay Polyclinic. 

Dr. Azali has extensive experience across the full spectrum of rheumatology. His expertise covers the evaluation and management of chronic inflammatory arthritis diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, spondylarthritis, reactive arthritis, gout, connective tissue diseases and systemic inflammatory disorders like Behcet, FMF, PMR and sarcoidosis. He is highly skilled in the use of disease-modifying and biologic anti-rheumatic medications, including initiation, monitoring, and long-term follow-up tailored to individual patient needs. Additionally, he applies musculoskeletal ultrasound for both diagnostic purposes and ultrasound-guided joint and soft-tissue injections, ensuring precise and effective treatment. He also manages patients with common musculoskeletal conditions such as joint and back pain (acute or chronic), osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and enthesitis, providing comprehensive work-up and prevention strategies. His approach combines advanced European training with patient-centred care, focusing on accurate diagnosis, evidence-based therapy, and long-term health outcomes. He addresses abnormal immunologic test results like ANA, RF, ANCA, elevated ESR work-up, polymyalgia rheumatica, temporal arteritis, autoinflammatory diseases (FMF), inflammatory myopathies or abnormal muscle enzyme test like creatine kinase (CK) elevation, Raynaud’s syndrome and Sicca symptoms in Sjogren’s syndrome.

During his leisure hours he enjoys reading, spending time with his family and meeting friends. He likes to keep fit through playing basketball and other sporting activities. He speaks English, Persian (Farsi) and Swedish.