Letter from the NLA President: Hello, Everyone!

I feel so fortunate to be able to write this. I am honored to lead the NLA as the 2022-2023 president. Having been involved in the NLA for nearly its full 20-year history, I look forward to helping shape the organization’s efforts for the next year. The expansion of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force and its efforts, adding to NLA membership, continuing the development of Scientific Statements and Clinical Perspectives, restoration of the LDL-C quality measure, and the NLA’s endorsement of the ACC expert consensus pathway are at the top of my goals list for my time as NLA president.

The NLA’s DEI Task Force was started in 2020 and as of June is now a committee of the NLA. The DEI Committee, headed by Gina Lundberg, MD of Emory University and Zahid Ahmad, MD of UT Southwestern University are leading the committee towards efforts and projects that will support not only a diverse and equitable organization, but will also encourage diverse and equitable work environments for healthcare professionals, and for the care delivered to patients. In order to implement these projects, we need additional volunteers for the committee. If you are interested, please contact Brian Hart, NLA Executive Director, at exec@lipid.org.

Speaking of members, I would like to challenge each of you to recruit new members – whether it’s a colleague you’ve worked with for years, a new trainee at your institution, or someone you’ve met at another organization, the NLA needs to continue to expand in order to strengthen its voice.

New Clinical Perspectives are on deck to be published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology in the coming months, including Nutrition Interventions for Youth with Dyslipidemia and Statin Associated Muscle Symptoms (SAMS). Other upcoming Clinical Perspectives include on one the Importance of Reinstating LDL-C Monitoring as a Quality Measure (in partnership with the American Geriatric Society), Management of Dyslipidemia During the Reproductive Years, and Nutrition Interventions for the Management of Dyslipidemia in Adults. The paper on the restoration of LDL-C as a quality measure, co-chaired by Christie Ballantyne, MD, FNLA and Beth Jackson, MSN, FNLA is of particular interest, in light of recent data from a large, managed care database showing that roughly half of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are not taking a statin. The NLA Board has approved this effort, and the co-chairs are working on selection of a writing group.

On a final note, I am excited to announce the NLA’s endorsement of the ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on the Role of Nonstatin Therapies for LDL-cholesterol Lowering in the Management of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk. This endorsement strengthens the relationship we have with the ACC and other organizations with missions that align with that of the NLA.

Once again, I am honored to serve as your NLA president and hope you will enjoy this outstanding edition of LipidSpin that has been compiled by NELA and SELA!