Chapter Update: Contributing to the NLA Mission

It was an honor and privilege for the Southeast Lipid Association (SELA) to host the National Lipid Association (NLA) Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla. this past May 2014. Excellent topics and presenters offered practical knowledge for integrating the latest clinical research guidelines into practice. I was pleased to chair the Abstracts Committee, and was impressed with all the submissions. Marisa Schoen, BA, was recognized with the First Place Young Investigator Award. Her poster was titled “Statins and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review.” All of the scientific posters abstracts were published in the June 2014 Journal of Clinical Lipidology. I hope you will encourage all Young Investigators to begin thinking about submitting their abstracts for this year’s NLA Scientific Sessions held in Chicago in June 2015.

One of the projects SELA is pursuing is being led by SELA Secretary Deborah Croy, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, AGPCNP-BC, CLS, AACC. Dr. Croy recognized the need for improving lipid management in underserved areas, especially in the southern region of the U.S. Patients in the south across the stroke belt have higher rates of modifiable risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. Dr. Croy has reached out to Virginia’s Federally Qualified Health Centers to see how SELA members can collaborate with them to provide and encourage education and advocacy. She has also contacted the Virginia Community Health Care Association about planning a SELA educational conference, possibly in March 2015. This is a wonderful way to involve interested SELA members in spreading the word about the importance of lipid management. For more information, see the Member Spotlight section of this LipidSpin (Page 29 in the PDF), which features her contributions!

Another SELA initiative being proposed, prompted by Dr. Harold Bays’ ideas and leadership, is a project geared toward improving patient care. This is another opportunity to engage the many extraordinary talents of volunteer SELA members to craft an educational review, with plans for publication in a peer- reviewed journal. Many clinicians are deficient in their knowledge of nutrition intervention and the lipid effects of common diets, which should be a core skill of anyone managing patients with dyslipidemia. The publication is to be titled “Nutritional Intervention and Dyslipidemia: Review of the Contents and Lipid Effects of Common Diets.” The creation of illustrated color figures representing common diets are planned for a number of ongoing and future NLA initiatives. This project is best integrated with others at the NLA who have an interest in nutrition interventions to further the overall goals of the organization.

I also want to share the initiatives of the Florida (FLA) Committee, led by President Sandra Kreul, ARNP. Each year the committee selects a topic and develops a presentation for its members to use in the community, for speaking and educating. This year Dr. Paul Zaijka has put together a talk on “The Evolution of Cholesterol Management Guidelines” for members to use in talks throughout their communities. Other projects of the FLA Committee include furthering relationships with other organizations, such as the Florida Chapter of ACC and the Florida Dietetic Association. FLA Committee member and SELA Board Member Dr. Greg Cohn is participating in an Internal Medicine Residency Program at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. Residents rotate among three hospitals, and spend one day each month at Dr. Cohn’s office focusing on cardiovascular disease prevention. He emphasizes the difference between lipids and lipoproteins, utilization of advanced lipid testing, and diseases such as PCOS. He will be lecturing to the residents on “Lipids, Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis,” and providing them with valuable and current information on managing their patients’ lipid issues.

SELA is a very active, creative, and energetic organization that is always looking to involve more of its members. If you have a particular interest or passion and want to become involved, email ressegian@lipid.org at the NLA and let us know! We’ll take it from there.

Disclosure statement: Ms. Alexander has no disclosures to report.