Clinical lipidology is a branch of medicine focusing on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and associated disorders. A physician who specializes in the field of lipidology treats patients with lipid disorders and cardiovascular disease. This physician specialist studies and treats cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins in the blood, all of which contribute to heart disease and atherosclerosis. The field of lipidology is growing rapidly because of the number of patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease, obesity and diabetes mellitus.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Washington, D.C. has a population of 550,521. Of this population, 110,240 are under the age of 18 and 66,591 are at or above the age of 65.