Member Spotlight: Lipid Scholarship Program Recipients

Dr. Scott Kirkpatrick is SWLA’s 2022 Lipid Scholarship Program recipient, a PGY-5 cardiology fellow at the University of Arizona-Tuscon. As a future general cardiologist with a passion for preventive cardiology, his career mission is to help as many people as he can in the fight against cardiovascular disease, the number one reason loved ones are lost and our one precious life is cut short. By using nutrition, exercise and/or medications, his aim is to develop a personalized plan to help patients achieve the cardiovascular health required to live their life to the fullest. Outside of work, he loves spending as much time as possible with his wife and their newborn son! He also enjoy exercising and playing/watching football and basketball. When asked what has been the most valuable opportunity and takeaway from paricipating in the program, he replied, “The Lipid Scholarship Program made it possible for me to attend the NLA’s scientific sessions last year. Not only did I gain a lot of practice-changing knowledge from the conference, but it allowed me to connect with incredibly brilliant people in the realm of lipidology. This has been invaluable as I pursue my career in general and preventive cardiology.”

Dr. Iulia Iatan is PLA’s 2022 Lipid Scholarship Program recipient, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Clinical Lipidology, and Cardiometabolic Health at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Iatan graduated from General Internal Medicine at McGill University, after completing her medical degree (MD) at Laval University in Quebec City and obtaining a PhD at McGill University, working on the genetic and molecular regulation of cholesterol metabolism and its implication in premature cardiovascular disease. She has an interest in cardiometabolic health and prevention, management of inherited lipid disorders and cardiovascular genetics. Dr. Iatan has presented at several national and international conferences and authored several peer-reviewed papers. She received the Junior Investigator Award for Women from the American Heart Association, demonstrating her commitment and dedication to the medical and scientific community. Dr. Iatan said, “Participating in the LSP program has been an invaluable opportunity. It has provided me with enhanced clinical knowledge through a variety of resources, including access to online education training, mentored clinical experience, funding for NLA scientific meetings and Board Certification, as well as exciting research projects. It has also allowed me to join a network of world-renowned experts and foster long-lasting collaborations. The LSP has thus been a gateway for professional advancement towards my career goals.”