Bringing Lipids Into the Spotlight

A primary mission of the National Lipid Association (NLA) is to invigorate interest in lipidology-based prevention strategies amongst the healthcare community and the public at-large. Through diverse leadership direction and innovation, the Northeast Lipid Association (NELA) is having a successful year in achieving this mission regionally and nationally. We are excited by our members’ ability to educate and engage the public as we endeavor to bring lipids into the spotlight.

As an exciting first mention, Joseph Saseen, PharmD (from SWLA), President-Elect of the NLA, gave a high-energy presentation on the 2018 guidelines for the Philadelphia and Atherosclerosis Club. He offered his own personal insight as the American Pharmacists Association Writing Group representative author of the new guidelines. The discussion was augmented by case presentations and panel discussions, which included NELA members Doug Jacoby, MD; Daniel Soffer, MD; Perry Weinstock, MD; David Kann, MD and Tom Phiambolis, MD.

NELA member Howard Weintraub, MD and NLA Past-President James Underberg, MD spoke at the Irwin D. Mandel Advances in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Conference.

“It is with great pleasure that we mention ongoing educational and collaborative efforts undertaken by NELA members that highlight the mission of the NLA.”

This is a biannual, full-day seminar focused on new management strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes. Likewise, NELA member Stephen Meng, MD gave a well-received talk on ‘Lipid Management for Primary Cardiovascular Prevention’ at the 30th Annual Update in Cardiology at Christiana Care Health Systems. NELA Treasurer Eugenia Gianos, MD participatedg in the exciting new conference directed by Drs. Carl Orringer, Pamela Morris and Andrew Freeman titled “Cardiovascular Health Promotion: Contemporary Approaches to Prevention” May 30–June 1 at the Heart House in DC.

It is with great pleasure that we mention ongoing educational and collaborative efforts undertaken by NELA members that highlight the mission of the NLA. NELA Treasurer Karen Aspry, MD, chairs the NLA’s Guideline Dissemination Task Force, which works together with the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association on efforts to broadcast the most clinically relevant messages from the guidelines. Among these efforts include several live presentations and events, recorded interviews, social media outreach campaigns, publications, NLA patient tear sheets and numerous educational initiatives.

 “By highlighting some of the many activities within the NELA chapter, we hope to inspire others to continue to pursue their passion for lipidology and the mission of the NLA.”

NELA Past-President Daniel Soffer, MD joined Margo Minissian, PhD (PLA) at the Pri-Med in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in February to discuss the 2018 Guidelines. Their discussion highlighted one of the many innovative tools being used to educate healthcare providers and patients on key points from the 2018 Guidelines. This event will be available on Medscape. Noteworthy academic achievements include that of NELA member Laney Jones, PharmD from Geisinger, who published an article in Circulation: Genetics and Precision Medicine in 2018 on the barriers to appropriate care among FH patients who tested positive for a causative mutation. She recently presented at the University of Pennsylvania on advancing implementation of risk communication tools to educate providers and patients on the importance of a positive genetic result in order to improve outcomes.

Looking ahead to upcoming events, NELA Treasurer Eugenia Gianos, MD will host Northwell Health’s first annual ‘Heart of Prevention Symposium,’ which will provide a contemporary, evidence-based review of cardiovascular prevention with a focus on women’s heart health. In addition to several NELA members serving as presenters and moderators at the conference, speakers will include renowned NLA members Kim Williams, MD and Neil Stone, MD. NELA members Guy Mintz, MD and Benjamin Hirsh, MD will be presenting at this conference as well. Drs. Mintz and Hirsh have joined forces to create the first Lipid Center on Long Island anticipated to open in the summer of 2019. This collaboration is a prime example of how mentorship and motivation within NELA has brought together a longstanding and newer member of the chapter to forge new achievements in clinical lipidology.

By highlighting some of the many activities within the NELA chapter, we hope to inspire others to continue to pursue their passion for lipidology and the mission of the NLA. We continue to see the success that derives from the engagement of existing and newer members within our chapter. Through leadership and innovation, we continue to shine a brighter light on lipidology for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Disclosure statement: Dr. Hirsh has received honoraria from Sanofi-Regeneron and serves on the advisory boards for Regeneron and AztraZeneca.