萝莉社

, an associate professor of in the at the , is part of an esteemed group of experts looking to raise nationwide awareness about cholesterol.

Velarde is a member of the inaugural steering committee for the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. This 14-member group met in March in San Diego to launch the Cholesterol Awareness Initiative, which will address major cholesterol concerns among high-risk patients and underserved populations.

The committee includes experts from a wide range of sectors such as health care, higher education, the federal government, private business and nonprofits. The members will focus on three evidence-based strategies to reduce cholesterol-management barriers and increase awareness about cholesterol鈥檚 effects on cardiovascular health. Those strategies are choosing appropriate therapy, understanding risks and managing those risks.

鈥淭his cholesterol-management initiative will continue for the next three years and begins at a time of some general confusion from the public about cholesterol because of newly announced dietary guidelines,鈥� Velarde said. 鈥淥ur work will help people understand how cholesterol affects their heart health.鈥�

Velarde, who specializes in cardiovascular disease, is director of the at . She is also co-author and editor of 鈥淢anagement of Cardiovascular Disease in Women鈥� 鈥� a guide and resource for physicians treating women with heart disease. It is the first published book in the country that鈥檚 solely devoted to treating heart disease in women on a broad level.

For more information about the Cholesterol Awareness Initiative, visit .