Memories of the Beginning

When Dr. Maria Lopes-Virella and I took on joint editorship of the first issue of LipidSpin all those years ago, I remember feeling like we were responsible for a newborn baby named clinical lipidology. At that time, the National Lipid Association (NLA) had grown from a local lipid association, the Southeast Lipid Association (SELA) under the guidance and vision of Dr. Virgil Brown, MD, and the tradition whereby patients with lipid disorders were mostly seen in specialized lipid centers located mostly at academic centers was just beginning to change. What was so novel and exciting about LipidSpin was that it was formed to communicate information and stimulate interest in lipidology across the widest spectrum of health care practitioners, from those new to the field to those with substantial expertise in the area. At the same time, this was a tall order. So, it was decided to share responsibility for each quarterly publication with the five local lipid associations on a rotating basis which we thought would have the advantage of bringing in interests and points of view from across the country.

With respect to content, we wanted to have at least one feature that tackled an important clinical topic in some depth which we called Clinical Insights. This was followed by a Message from the President together with a column entitled Practical Pearls dealing with practical topics of interest to the NLA’s diverse membership, a Clinical Corner featuring a case study or clinical problem or question of practical utility to non-specialist practitioners and Lipid Luminations, which aimed at presenting one or two recent research findings from the literature we thought to be interest to the readership. Finally, it was widely realized that LipidSpin would be an excellent vehicle for updating those interested in clinical lipidology on information, continuing education programs and news in the field both within the NLA and the American Board of Clinical Lipidology (ABCL) and beyond. It was always important to us that all articles be easily readable and relevant to busy health care professionals.

It is heartening to see that LipidSpin has now come of age, doubling in size over these 15 years with many new features, yet retaining the elements it began with. Good luck for the future!