From the SWLA President: Physical Findings Still Relevant

Each of us should strive "to rise above the routines of the daily ward round and to see in every patient an opportunity not only to serve mankind in the best tradition of medical excellence, but to add to the store of medical knowledge."
–A. McGehee Harvey (1973)

Welcome to this issue of the Lipid Spin! This publication serves a wonderful adjunct to the Journal of Clinical Lipidology in bringing science to the forefront for practical application.

The emphasis in this issue is focused on physical examination. Many have dubbed physical examination a lost art, touting that technology is more convenient and conclusive. However, it should indeed remain on the forefront of each interaction with our patients. This, along with focused inquiry into their medical, family and social history, offers suggestions as to where we should proceed with our investigation and perhaps which technology we should use. Just like a good mystery, we put pieces of a puzzle together to obtain a more complete picture. The term clinical investigator is used predominantly in a research setting, but I find it applicable to health care providers as a whole. What did I want to be when I grew up? You guessed it, a private investigator. I bridged this concept to nursing and medicine and I never have a dull day. I learn something new every day from both patients and colleagues and hope to never lose that benefit of working in cardiology. Lipids are a fascinating piece of this puzzle with still so much to learn. We can and should approach every patient as an opportunity to learn.

As the physical exam offers insight upon where to direct our next step in the investigation, we often utilize other technical modalities beyond our eyes, ears, and hands. We are lucky enough in this day and age to have access to advanced technology to confirm our suspicions. Included in this issue of the Lipid Spin are physical findings that warrant further evaluation. Especially in children and adolescents, these findings can be the clue that leads to an important potentially lifethreatening diagnosis.

The applicability of physical examination extends to the population of the world in all ethnicities. Where we become disparate is among dietary patterns, lifestyle and activity levels, responses to medications, and epidemiological trends.

This is an important area to acknowledge and understand and we can certainly learn from our colleagues from around the globe. Our Spring Clinical Lipid Update 2014, co-hosted by the Southwest Lipid Association and the Pacific Lipid Association, will serve that capacity. We will learn from international leaders as we dive into international themes and evolutionary topics to include 4000-yearold mummies. Not to worry, we have left enough time to enjoy the island! Save the date for breathtaking Maui in March 2014.

Hope to see you in the Aloha state and enjoy this issue of the Lipid Spin!