A Message from the President of the Pacific Lipid Association

It is my pleasure and honor to have become President of the Pacific Chapter of the National Lipid Association. I bring with me the experience of working with two tremendous past Presidents, J. Antonio G. López, MD and John Nelson, MD. I am excited that we have such a dynamic chapter with enthusiastic members. Our executive board is very involved and experienced.  I know that I will have the help I need to make this a very successful year for the PLA.

The NLA encourages involvement and participation from every member. We recognize that reducing the toll of cardiovascular disease requires the assistance of those in a wide variety of disciplines. Our membership includes not only physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, but pharmacists, nurses, dieticians, exercise physiologists, bench scientists and others.

My involvement with the NLA has allowed me to meet and interact with some of the brightest and involved scientists, researchers, and practitioners from all over the world.  It has been a pleasure to be able to discuss science with those so dedicated to the advancement of the field. I have been involved with no other organization that is so open and inclusive.

Becoming certified in Clinical Lipidology has markedly improved the quality of my practice. I realize that reducing the risks of CVD is more than just altering numbers. It has helped me to understand the interaction of lifestyle and biochemistry as it relates to disease risk and health. I encourage anyone involved with the care of patients with CVD risk to pursue certification.

I would also encourage our PLA members to become involved in their communities. Several of our members have produced regional symposiums on CVD risk reduction. Other members have become involved in speaking for local service groups and hospitals. These activities offer us the opportunity to improve the quality of care in our communities. I also hope our membership will consider supporting the Foundation of the NLA or registering for Lifetime Membership in the NLA.

This will be a busy year for the Pacific Lipid Association.  With the help of Susan Given, FNP we will soon publish our first newsletter. In March of 2014, the PLA, along with SWLA, will be presenting our Spring Clinical Lipid Update in Maui, Hawaii.  The primary objectives will involve helping primary care doctors diagnose and treat lipid disorders as well as the insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome.  We will investigate cultural differences of populations around the world.  We hope to highlight both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical therapies. I hope to see a great turnout for this wonderful event. 

The Pacific Lipid Association will continue to be a strong advocate for health care providers from all disciplines and I look forward to my tenure as President.

Sincerely,
B Bottenberg DO, FACOI, FNLA
Carson City, NV