From the NELA President: Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

It is with great pride and excitement that I compose this chapter message. Conveniently, this issue of Lipid Spin falls midway through my year as President of NELA, and therefore provides a perfect opportunity to update you on where we are, and where we are going.

The summer months were a time of planning, both for our NELA/SELA CLU in Baltimore in mid-September and for our community outreach project in early September. I am pleased to say that both were great successes. The Baltimore meeting, focusing on "The Genetics of Lipid Disorders" was one of the most well-attended Clinical Lipid Updates. The combination of speakers and venue provided a wonderful opportunity for attendees to re-energize and connect after the summer months. The NELA Board was able to have a face-to-face meeting and discuss our upcoming plans for the remainder of the year.

Just prior to the Baltimore meeting we held our first NELA community outreach event in New York City at the "NY Yankees Fan Fest" held at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum in Manhattan. This event was co-sponsored by NELA and the Foundation of the NLA. Many thanks to Merle Myerson, MD and NLA staff members Judi Span and Emily Parker for helping to coordinate this event, along with the numerous NELA members who traveled from throughout the Northeast region to participate in this event. We participated in a cholesterol screening and awareness program, while also promoting FH awareness. It was wonderful seeing one another on a warm, sunny New York day. Next time we will make sure we are not next door to the free ice cream booth!

Most recently NELA endorsed and helped promote the NY Lipid Forum, held at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Similar events have been held in other NELA cities, including the Philadelphia Lipid Group (Dan Soffer, MD, FNLA), and in Boston. Despite the inclement weather and the proximity to the Thanksgiving holiday, almost 100 attendees showed up to listen to NELA members Robert Rosenson, MD, Don Smith, MD, FNLA, and Joyce Ross, MSN, CRNP, FNLA discuss several interesting and timely subjects. Expected debate ensued with a lively question-and-answer session. It was great to see current and new NELA members attending. Once again, thanks to Dr. Merle Myerson for spearheading this program. We look forward to endorsing it again next year!

My hope for the first half of 2014 is to continue these types of activities in many of our other NELA locations. Local gettogethers, community outreach projects and even CME programs can all serve as opportunities to meet, engage and enlist more NELA members. Our new membership committee, co-chaired by Ken Kellick, PharmD, FNLA and Spencer Kroll, MD, PhD, FNLA is working on additional ways to increase our numbers. Many thanks to all who have helped make this a great 2013, including our wonderful executive committee, our great Board of Directors and all of the members who have volunteered and helped out this year. I look forward to an exciting 2014, and hope to see many of you at our Annual Scientific Sessions in Orlando this May.