SELA Chapter Update: SELA Members are Engaged, Involved, and Making an Impact within Their Communities

The 2023 Scientific Sessions in June were well attended and provided superb learning opportunities for all. As always, this was a time to connect and network with old and new colleagues and friends. SELA president, Jan McAlister, DNP, CLS, FNLA and Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA served on the Planning Committee and several members were Faculty, including:

Vera Bittner, MD, MSPH, MNLA
Shireen Khoury, MD, MPH
Margit K. Sample, RDN, LD
Michael D. Shapiro, DO, MCR, FNLA
Aneesha Thobani, MD
Alisha Virani, MS, RD, CDCES

At the Honors and Awards Ceremony on June 3rd, Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA received the 2023 NLA President’s Service Award. This award recognized Mary Katherine for her service and dedication to the NLA as well as her efforts toward advancing the development of clinical lipidology. Thomas Dayspring MD, FACP, FNLA was awarded the Foundation of NLA 2023 Clinician/Educator Award. The SELA Chapter President’s Service Award was presented to Thomas White, MD, FNLA and myself, Kathleen Byrne CRNP, FPCNA, CLS, FNLA. 

Stephanie B Mayer, MD, MHSc, was recognized for having passed the American Board of Clinical Lipidology (ABCL) May 2023.   

John R. Guyton, MD, FNLA, was honored for his service to the Journal of Clinical Lipidology. Dr. Guyton was Editor-in-Chief from 2017 - 2023! We are grateful for the contributions he made to our organization and its esteemed publication. 

Members of the NLA were provided an opportunity to volunteer during the Scientific Sessions. Under the leadership of Mary Katherine Cheeley, over 30 members packed multiple boxes for Feeding Georgia Families, providing food for families who are food insecure. Two dieticians from the Grady Health System, Alisha Virani and Margit Sample, created a handout for healthy eating on a budget and talked to NLA members on how patients can gain access to SNAP and food pantries as well as how to prepare foods from a pantry box in a healthy manner.   

Mary Katherine Cheeley, PharmD, BCPS, CLS, FNLA was on the 2023 Fall CLU Planning Committee and Seth S. Martin, MD, MHS was Faculty. We are grateful to our members who dedicated their time and talents to make both these programs successful. 2023 was full of great meetings, and though they have concluded for the year, we look forward to seeing everyone in Vegas for the 2024 Annual Scientific Sessions!

Outside of NLA meetings, the chapter kicked off the New Year with SELA Speaks – a series of educational programs that were recorded and posted on www.lipid.org/journalclub. They have been well attended, and featured talks on:
NAFLD/NASH - Greg Pokrywka, MD, FNLA
Exploring the Paradox of High LDL- cholesterol – Bill Cromwell, MD, FNLA
ApoE – What Lipidologists Need to Know and What They Were Never Taught – Tom Dayspring, MD, FACP, FNLA
Prevention of AD: What the Lipidologist Needs to Know – Kellyann Niotis, MD
Genetics: What You Need to Know - Emily Brown MGC, CGC 

A survey was conducted to explore how we can better serve the members of our chapter. Suggestions were made to foster better communication; to increase networking, particularly for our newer members; to sponsor SELA specific events at the NLA meetings as well as plan quarterly SELA events so that collegial relationships can be fostered, to provide and advertise educational programs, and to list job opportunities. 

In alignment with the NLA, SELA recognizes the significance of providing high quality patient education materials. All “tear sheets” can be found on the NLA website under Practice Tools. Two new “tear sheets” are being finalized, and have been spearheaded by Greg Pokrywka, MD, NCMP, FNLA:

1. MASFLD (Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease) Diagnosis and Management
2. Resistance Training for Cardiometabolic Health

Greg Pokrywka, MD, NCMP, FNLA has been named to the NLA National Board. He reports he is involved in multiple clinical trials, including one for olezarsen and bembedoic acid.  

SELA members have been involved in many academic endeavors including:    

Publications:   

1. Martin SS, Niles JK, Kaufman HW, Awan Z, Elgaddar O, Choi R, Ahn S, Verma R, Nagarajan M, Don-Wauchope A, Gurgel Castelo MHC, Hirose CK, James D, Truman D, Todorovska M, Momirovska A, Pivovarníková H, Rákociová M, Louzao-Gudin P, Batu J, El Banna N, Kapoor H. Lipid distributions in the Global Diagnostics Network across five continents. Eur Heart J. 2023 Jul 1;44(25):2305-2318. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad371. PMID: 37392135; PMCID: PMC10314323. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37392135/
2. Samuel C, Park J, Sajja A, Michos ED, Blumenthal RS, Jones SR, Martin SS. Accuracy of 23 Equations for Estimating LDL Cholesterol in a Clinical Laboratory Database of 5,051,467 Patients. Glob Heart. 2023 Jun 19;18(1):36. doi: 10.5334/gh.1214. PMID: 37361322; PMCID: PMC10289049. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37361322/
3. Albosta MS, Grant JK, Taub P, Blumenthal RS, Martin SS, Michos ED. Inclisiran: A New Strategy for LDL-C Lowering and Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2023 Jul 6;19:421-431. doi: 10.2147/VHRM.S338424. PMID: 37434791; PMCID: PMC10332363. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37434791/

Abstract and Poster Presentation: 

Forrest A., Negron Marte MG., George A., Mayer SB. “Assessing Knowledge Retention and Level of Comfort with Obesity Management Among Internal Medicine Residents following a Trainee-Led Education Session” (20586). Poster presented at ACGME Annual Educational Conference, February 23-25, 2023, Nashville, TN.

Presentations:

Stephanie Mayer, MD, MHSc, presented two talks at the American College of Physicians (ACP), San Diego, April 28, 2023:

1. “Endocrinology Apéritifs”: What does the internist need to know about prescribing tirzepatide?
2. What is the appropriate work-up of a patient noted to have hypoglycemia without a history of diabetes? 

Kathleen Byrne CRNP, FPCNA, CLS, FNLA participated in the PCNA Cholesterol Summit, talking on Inherited Genetic Lipid Disorders: An Overview. She also participated in two podcasts on 

1. Lurking Lp(a):  Hiding Just Below the Surface
2. Lp(a):  Closer to Home Than You Think

Two of our members are volunteering their time promoting and advocating for cardiovascular health:  

Seth Martin, MD is serving a two-year term as the President of the Maryland American Heart Association. This will be a particularly exciting time, as the AHA is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024!

Dharmash Patel, MD, FNLA is the current President of PACH (Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health). He recently spoke to staff on the Hill addressing the dangerous consequences of the PBM tactic of non-medical switching and asked the audience to consider legislation to ensure transparency and accountability for the PBM industry.

Our members are involved, engaged, and are positively impacting cardiovascular health through many means. We are a group of professionals who are looking to expand our knowledge base, mentor newer members, improve patient care, and enjoy relationships with other colleagues. If you reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washinton, DC, or West Virginia, come join us and share your talents!