From the SWLA President: Make Your Voice Heard

Greetings! I was honored and excited to be nominated as the President of the Southwest Lipid Association (SWLA) at the National Lipid Association’s (NLA) Annual Scientific Sessions in May 2014. As we acknowledge the team that have been at the executive level and performed with high energy, we would like to tap into their continued support. This year, we plan to move forward with exuberance in creating new strategies for our continued growth. We intend to implement Million Hearts in early 2015, as well as the Spring Clinical Lipid Update in Denver in February 2015. One of our goals is to initiate digital strategies to enhance awareness among non-medical communities. At SWLA, we plan to create a global presence for the NLA, thus creating an impact factor with constructive partnerships that will be exemplary.

A major goal of our association is to inform the general public and relevant healthcare professionals about lipids and other risk multipliers that lead to non-communicable diseases. To that end, the NLA and SWLA offer members the opportunity to become engaged in activities. The most recent

Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management of Dyslipidemia and the Expert Panel on Statin Safety are prime examples of effective leadership in our organization. This is your chance to get involved in councils and communities and increase your visibility. Voice your

opinions on guidelines/recommendations and statements, get involved in instructing through courses and conferences, engage via social networks and the Foundation of the NLA, and inspire other organizations to team up with us for best patient outcomes. Now is the time to develop collaborative concepts and new ideas that will strengthen policies and practices to help quell cardiovascular disease. SWLA will continue to serve as a platform to recognize and provide leadership opportunities and celebrate the activities of those making an impact on people’s lives through education, research, and intervention.

The theme for this LipidSpin issue is “The Triglyceride Enigma: A Biomarker of Risk or a Therapeutic Target?” Many authors have come together to fill the gap that is prevalent, and discuss fibrate therapy for high TG, triglyceride  HDL axis in diabetic patients, severe hypertriglyceridemia in childhood, gene therapy in dyslipidemia, and many other topics. Hopefully, the topics will be enlightening and intriguing at the same time!

Please share your ideas, articulate your opinions, advocate your causes, increase awareness to your colleagues to become members, and show your steadfast support. I would like to invite you to find and share resources at lipid.org. Feel free to contact me at 480-945-3535 or kvijaymd@gmail.com.

Thank you and I look forward to your support.