Debra Parker, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice and director of Medication Therapy Management at The University of Findlay has recently been awarded Diplomate status with the Accreditation Council for Clinical Lipidology (ACCL).

The ACCL is a nonprofit certifying organization dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality from dyslipidemia and related diseases by assessing qualifications and certifying knowledge in clinical lipidology.

During the last seven years, Parker has practiced in private practice managing patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. “Cholesterol, lipids, are a special interest of mine,” said Parker, “and I wanted to become even more educated regarding the topic. As cardiovascular disease is the leading killer in this country, advanced training in this field will be extremely useful in not only my teaching, but assisting to manage patients whose cholesterol levels are difficult to keep under control!”

In addition, Parker practices in an ambulatory care clinic at Blanchard Valley Medical Associates (BVMA), and hopes to be involved with employee wellness initiatives at UF in the near future.

A native of Harrod, Ohio, Parker graduated with a Pharm.D. from Ohio Northern University and completed residency training at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

Parker is one of the first pharmacists from across the nation who has achieved this important credential. ACCL Diplomates can use the title of “Clinical Lipid Specialist” and append the letters “CLS” to their names in formal contexts. The designation indicates those allied health professionals who have distinguished themselves among their colleagues by having satisfied the credentialing and testing requirements established by the ACCL.

To obtain Diplomate status with the ACCL, an allied health professional must complete a range of continuing medical education requirements and successfully pass a rigorous examination. Professionals in the area of lipid management specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cholesterol disorders known as dyslipidemia, which may cause atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is responsible for approximately one-third of all deaths in the U.S.

For more information on certification, visit www.lipidspecialist.org. To learn more about dyslipidemia and the field of lipidology, visit www.lipid.org, the National Lipid Association Web site.