From the NLA President: State of the NLA Address

As I look back at our recent Board of Directors meeting in Anaheim, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to serve as the National Lipid Association President with such a wonderful, dignified collection of leaders committed to advancing clinical lipidology.

The NLA continues to mature, and to cultivate that evolution, we are ensuring our organizational policies grow alongside the organization. One major enhancement is the redefinition of the Scientific Meetings Committee to ensure continuity in planning as well as professional diversity in the planning and execution of the NLA meeting series.

Developing diversity and leadership opportunities are paramount to an organization’s growth and particularly important given the multidisciplinary nature of the NLA. I am excited about the strides we are taking to encourage that growth, which includes the development of our “Women In Lipidology” working group under the leadership of Joyce Ross, MSN, CRNP, FNLA; Anne Goldberg, MD, FNLA; Roda Plakogiannis,  PharmD,  FNLA; and Carol Kirkpatrick, PhD, RDN, MPH, FNLA. This group is focusing on opportunities for the NLA to recognize, recruit, advocate and foster the development of future female leaders in lipidology.

In addition, we have continued a collaboration launched this year with the Association of Black Cardiologists and the National Hispanic Medical Association. This partnership was on full display in Anaheim at the “Managing Dyslipidemia in Special Populations” Symposium, which was chaired by NLA’s Pamela  Morris, MD, FACC, FACP, FACPM, FAHA, FNLA; moderated by the NLA’s Harold  Bays MD, FTOS, FACC, FACE, FNLA and included wonderful presentations from the ABC’s Keith C. Ferdinand, MD, FACC, FAHA, FNLA, FASH; and the NHMA’s Olga Garcia-Bedoya, MD.

It is important for the NLA’s core curriculum to stay fresh and relevant. To steward its ongoing maintenance and appropriate implementation, the Board of Directors approved the creation of the Core Curriculum Committee that is chaired by Chief Science Officer Peter Jones, MD, FACP, FNLA and a roster that represents the professional diversity of the NLA. In addition, new co-chairs have been appointed for our ancillary courses. Terry Jacobson, MD, FNLA and Harold Bays will lead Masters in Lipidology, and Joseph Saseen, PharmD,  FNLA and Daniel Soffer, MD, FNLA will lead Foundations of Lipidology, which has been rebranded from Lipid Academy to better reflect its introductory content.

Our organization is one that is built on science, which I believe is important to continue building on that foundation. With cornerstone programs such as the Junior Faculty Research Award, which includes the Basic Science and Clinical Science awards, our Young Investigator Award and our scientific poster presentations and oral abstracts, we continue to emphasize the importance of scientific excellence.

As we strengthen our internal structure to prime our organization for continued growth, it is vital to bolster our external image through the enhancement of the NLA’s communications efforts. Chaired by President-Elect Alan Brown, MD, FNLA, the Communications Council has focused on making our communications channels more personal and accessible. As part of this initiative, the NLA recently launched a new homepage, led by the efforts of Online Media committee chair Pamela Morris. The fresh look better reflects our growing diversity. The website will continue to receive enhancements in the coming months. In addition, our social media presence, led by new Media Relations Committee co-chairs Dave Dixon, PharmD,  FNLA and Casey Elkins, DNP, FNLA, continues to trend upward with a focus in delivering well-rounded content, and our publications, LipidSpin and the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, continue to gain prestige.

I could not be more excited about the NLA’s future outlook. As our leadership puts forth tremendous effort to raise the bar in excellence, I encourage you, our members, to stay active with your chapters, volunteer with committees and attend our meetings. Your involvement is crucial to the progress of our great organization.