From the President of the International Atherosclerosis Society

A message from the IAS President

As I write this, the world is focused on the global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and its terrible consequence, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We are all feeling the painful impact of COVID-19 not only in people but also on the health system and economy. It threatens us all. We need each other's solidarity and help right now.

We must remember that we have faced other infectious illnesses before, and we will come through this one together. The International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) is here, and we are still working.

If you are reading this, it is very likely you are a member of the National Lipid Association or a related constituent society. Your society is part of a regional federation, with appointed and elected representatives. Current federations exist in Europe, Pan-Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East/Africa. The leadership of each federation serves alongside other elected members of the IAS to form the executive board that is elected every three years. The IAS closely collaborates with the World Heart Federation to develop joint projects on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of atherosclerosis within the entire context of cardiovascular disease.

The agenda of the IAS is a challenge with an enormous agenda and can only be achieved when we work together. We are separated by time, geography, demographics, economics, culture, and other barriers, but that is the reason behind the work of a truly global organization such as the IAS.

You may not know how the IAS serves you or your organization. The effect and impact of what we engage in stimulates thought and debate and evolves into new strategies for care.

The IAS has adopted a “Five Corners of the World Strategy.” We strive to reach and unite clinicians around the world and seek to create solutions in the following areas of consideration.

• •Policy and guidelines;
• •Global barriers/advocacy;
• •Education and communication;
• •Young investigator training;
• •Awards and recognition.

While some of our upcoming programs and conferences have been canceled or postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis, we are already sharing webinars in the education center at www.athero.org including a new series on prevention of diabetes in the education center with more to come in the near future. In 2021, the IAS, the Japanese Society of Atherosclerosis, and the Oman Society for Lipids and Atherosclerosis will embark on the ISA Triennial Congress in Kyoto, Japan, and in Muscat, Oman. We have a lot to achieve before the opening gavel of this milestone event.

Like many organizations, the IAS seeks financial support from our constituent societies in the form of dues; from charitable public trusts; and from our industry partners who share our goal for the benefit of patient care and reduce the burden of the still cause number one of mortality that is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

We thank the editor of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, John Guyton, and the National Lipid Association leaders for their continued support and opportunity. More information about the IAS can be found on our website: www.athero.org.