From the SELA President: Researching Progress

I am honored and excited to serve as President of the Southeast Lipid Association (SELA). My passion for lipids heralds back to the formation of the Florida Lipid Associates in 1994, led by Paul Ziajka, MD, PhD, FNLA, and some others interested in lipid research and treatment. It has been gratifying to see the progression of that passion over the years and the formation of SELA, and then the National Lipid Association (NLA).

One of the duties of a chapter president is to host an issue of the LipidSpin, choosing topics and authors. The theme for this LipidSpin is “Evaluating Published Clinical Trials and Translating Them into Practice,” and SELA members eagerly responded.

I want to thank each author for rising to the task and sharing their expertise in the current articles. Many thanks as well to the expert guidance of Melissa Heyboer with the NLA, and the LipidSpin editors, James Underberg, MD, MS, FNLA, and Robert Wild, MD, MPH, PhD, FNLA.

One of the founders of the evidence-based medicine movement described it as “the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.”1 A practitioner’s own knowledge and clinical experience is one aspect; understanding how relevant research applies to a specific patient is another. “Good doctors use both clinical expertise and the best available external evidence, and neither alone is enough.”1

As a clinical researcher myself, I believe this issue will prove valuable in helping to translate the evidence-based medicine of clinical trials to good use in caring for our patients. And as a Registered Dietitian, I have been afforded the best opportunity to care for and educate my patients — allowing them to be on the “cutting edge” of treatments in clinical trials, but also teaching them the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Many clinical trials are double-blinded, so if there is a placebo group, patients learn to appreciate how important diet and exercise can be to their overall health.

I want to thank our great Executive Board of Directors and all of the SELA members who have volunteered to help on committees, participate in projects, or have just offered support and guidance this year. In the Chapter Update on page 27, I highlight some of the ideas and initiatives we will be pursuing. I look forward to a fantastic 2015!

References are listed on page 35 of the PDF.