National Lipid Association Committees

From time to time in the Lipid Spin, letters to members and through association e-mails, the office staff solicits volunteers to serve on committees and education programs. However, from a member's perspective, finding the information on how and where to volunteer for activities and program has not always been readily available. To address this matter, we have put together a member service webpage. We will list the opportunities (committee, board nomination, program, award, etc.) and note whether the opportunity to volunteer is open or closed. Details about the activity will be provided and those interested can fill out the volunteer form and attach any documents necessary. A copy will go to the office database for recordkeeping and the activity chairman will receive a copy for evaluation. Please keep this in mind when thinking about participation.

NLA Scientific Sessions Committee

Structure: NLA President, NLA President-Elect, Host Chapter President/President-Elect

Term of office: Annual Appointment by President-Elect of NLA and Host Chapter

Charge:

1. Provide planning for the Annual Scientific Sessions of the NLA and the host chapter.
2. The Committee will develop the theme and agenda for the annual sessions, including identification of faculty and approval of satellite symposia applications and scientific poster abstracts.
3. The proposed program will be submitted to the CME Committee for approval and accredited by the NLA and other appropriate CE accrediting bodies.

NLA Program Development Committee

Structure: Chairperson and eight or more members (including all NLA Activity Chairs) as appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

Charge:

1. This Committee will develop specific educational activities under the direct auspices of the NLA, designed to improve the skills of health professionals involved in the delivery of clinical lipid care, and to address the needs of members of the regional chapters. The committee will seek to round out the NLA educational program and professional development track by providing activities in a variety of formats.
2. The Committee will oversee all ongoing approved activities and the activity/program chair(s) will report to the committee on activity status on a regular basis but no less than twice per year.
3. An annual education needs assessment will be developed in conjunction with the CME Committee and the regional chapters of the NLA. The results will be reviewed semi-annually to ensure that NLA programming meets the current needs of its members.
4. In conjunction with the Executive Director and/or Director of Education, the committee will assist with drafting specific proposals for new activities to include the needs assessment for the activity, the educational objectives, the scope and duration of the activity, and a budget and will help to identify potential funding sources. The Committee will also consider and approve all proposals for new activities submitted to the NLA by an external organization or collaborator.
5. Before pursuing a new activity, all proposals (whether generated internally or externally) will require review by the CME Committee and subsequently the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors at a scheduled board meeting.

NLA Graduate Medical Education Committee

Structure: Chair and up to 7 additional members involved in graduate medical education.

Charges:

1. Develop a core curriculum in clinical lipidology for residents and fellows to encourage specialization in the field.
2. Establish a means by which the NLA Self-Assessment Program (NLA-SAP) and other training materials can be distributed to program directors and fellows.
3. Script instructions on how to best incorporate the NLA-SAP as a teaching tool for program directors and information for fellows on how to best utilize the NLA-SAP as a learning tool

- Foster concept of certification in Lipidology

4. Develop a core slide presentation for use by program directors and others involved in the teaching of fellows.
5. Encourage fellow involvement in the NLA and its scientific sessions.

NLA CME Committee

Structure:Chair/Medical Director and up to 12 members representing each regional chapter as well as Family Practice, Osteopathy, and the allied health disciplines.

Charges:

1. The NLA CME Committee oversees all continuing medical education activities consistent with guidelines established by the Accreditation Council for Medical Education (ACCME) and American Medical Association (AMA) and other reputable professional organizations designated to provide medical education credit for allied health professionals. The committee is comprised of members who serve in an advisory role to the NLA by recommending policy, overseeing the planning and content validation process, designating credit and monitoring the quality of all NLA sponsored continuing education activities.
2. This committee will be charged with establishing and maintaining an appropriate medical education program with the specific duties as follows:

- Help formulate policies and procedures pertinent to continuing education.
- Designate CME activities for AMA Category 1 PRA Credit.
- Participate in long and short term planning efforts.
- Oversee individual activity planning, content validation and conflict of interest resolution.
- Assist in needs assessment and make recommendations to Program Development Committee and/or activity chairs to improve future   activities.
- Assist in the post-activity evaluation process and incorporating outcomes assessment into activities.
- Provide a liaison between CME staff and faculty as needed
- Provide a liaison with appropriate external organizations, ie, ACCME, Alliance for CME, Council of Medical Specialty Societies, ABCL/ACCL,  and represent the NLA as needed at meetings.

3. This committee will review all educational activities and materials that are proposed for endorsement by the NLA or that will display the NLA logo or other identifying words or marks which will imply endorsement or accreditation by the NLA. The committee will establish guidelines that shall be used in the application for such endorsement.
4. The committee will respect all in its deliberations and base its decisions on the merits of the activity in meeting the needs of the association, the certification boards and the members.
5. Subcommittees/reviewers may be appointed to review and recommend approval of specific activities such as the Self Assessment Programs and other materials designed to support the educational efforts for the American Board of Clinical Lipidology / Accreditation Council for Clinical Lipidology or other internal needs.

Membership Committee

Structure: Chairperson and up to six members (at least one from each regional chapter) appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors

Charge:

1. Review all applications for membership to NLA and document that application criteria is consistent with membership requirements as defined by the bylaws.
2. Assign regional membership honoring request by the applicant whenever possible.
3. Maintain a membership file to include any information submitted by the member that may be pertinent to the credentialing and certification program offered by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology or other Board examinations as appropriate.
4. Provide requested documentation to the ABCL or other independent certifying boards where appropriate.
5. Develop member recruitment campaigns for all disciplines and in all regions and recommend member products/services that may encourage or retain members.

NLA Finance Committee

Structure:

Chairman - Elected NLA Treasurer

Members - Executive Committee and Executive

Director; Treasurer from each regional chapter

Charge:

1. Responsible for the financial review of banking, investments, operations and administration of the National Lipid Association in accordance with the bylaws, adopted financial policies of the association, and federal or local laws as they apply.
2. Prepare an annual budget and regularly reports the financial health of the organization as it relates to the budget and activities to the Board of Directors and the membership.
3. Make recommendations to the Board of Directors, which affect the financial status of the organization.
4. Ensure all reports and filings are submitted to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner.

Consumer Affairs Committee

Structure: The Consumer Affairs Committee will be a standing committee of the NLA. The Chairman and membership will be appointed by the President with advice and consent from the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of this committee will be an Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Directors. The committee membership will be up to 12 members with expertise in clinical medicine, public health, consumer affairs, dietetics pharmacy and related legal issues.

Charge:

1. Develop a program for acquiring scientific knowledge regarding the use of over the counter products sold as agents, which maintain desirable blood plasma lipid levels, or as remedies for lipid elevations and related vascular disorders.
2. Assess current consumer attitudes and use of products sold to maintain desirable lipid levels.
3. Assess current health professional attitudes regarding such products.
4. Review and make recommendations regarding any proposed programs involving OTC products or devices that would involve collaboration of the NLA in discharging the duties or functions of this Committee or other components of the NLA.
5. Recommend policies and procedures that would facilitate the appropriate education of NLA membership regarding current issues in the OTC environment.

Communications Committee

Structure:

Editors of all major NLA communications programs:

Editor(s) of the Lipid Spin and Website (lipid.org).

Other members shall form an Editorial Board to be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

Charge:

1. Provide an accurate and comprehensive summary of scientific and educational materials presented at the Annual Meetings of the NLA and of each chapter for publication in NLA publications or a specific journal (printed or electronic or both).
2. Consider and appropriately review for scientific content and clarity additional articles as they are developed by individual members of NLA.
3. Develop an annual publication plan and communications strategy to effectively convey timely news and science to NLA and chapter members.
4. Develop a budget and funding sources for the publications in conjunction with the Executive Director and business staff of the NLA.
5. Develop standards for proposed advertisements or other commercial materials offered for inclusion in the NLA publications.