Dr. James Trippi, MD
Not yet claimedLipidologist, Cardiologist, Preventive cardiologist · Physician (MD)
Indianapolis, IN
Physician certified in clinical lipidology by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology, practicing at Ascension-St Vincent Medical Group in Indianapolis, IN. Lipidologists manage cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a) with guideline-based care.
About Dr. James Trippi, MD
Updated Sep 20, 2026Dr. James A. Trippi, MD, FNLA, is a cardiologist and lipidologist who practices with Ascension St. Vincent in the Indianapolis area, including Avon and Carmel, Indiana. His practice profile says he diagnoses all types of cardiovascular disease and holds a subspecialty certification in lipidology, which is the care of cholesterol and other blood fat disorders.
He directs the Complex Cholesterol and Apheresis Center at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis and is President of the Midwest chapter of the National Lipid Association. His employer profile says he also helps train other physicians in treating difficult cholesterol disorders. He went to medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University and completed internal medicine residency (1979-1982) and a cardiovascular disease fellowship (1982-1984) there.
He has published research in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, including work on genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia in a community lipid clinic, and earlier research on dobutamine stress tele-echocardiography for emergency department chest pain patients.
Between 2021 and 2025, CMS Open Payments records list $171,807.73 in industry payments to him across 152 records, with the largest amounts from Amgen, Regeneron, and Esperion. Payments from drug and device companies are common and legal, and are reported publicly by law.
- Cardiology and lipid care
- Practices as a cardiologist at Ascension St. Vincent in Avon and Carmel, Indiana, and has a subspecialty certification in lipidology. healthcare.ascension.org
- Directs cholesterol center
- Listed by the National Lipid Association as Director of the Complex Cholesterol and Apheresis Center at Ascension-St. Vincent, Indianapolis. lipid.org
- Lipid association leadership
- He is a member of the National Lipid Association and President of its Midwest chapter, and his practice page says he trains other physicians in treating challenging cholesterol disorders. healthcare.ascension.org
- Training background
- Medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University, with internal medicine residency (1979-1982) and cardiovascular disease fellowship (1982-1984) at the same institution. doximity.com
- Hospital affiliations
- Affiliated with Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center, Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, and Ascension St. Vincent Carmel Hospital; Healthgrades also lists Hendricks Regional Health. healthgrades.com
- Published lipid research
- Author of a Journal of Clinical Lipidology study on diagnostic genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia in a community lipid clinic, and a JCL roundtable on lipid metabolism, brain health, and dementia prevention. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Earlier echocardiography research
- First author of a 1997 Journal of the American College of Cardiology study on dobutamine stress tele-echocardiography for emergency department chest pain patients. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Lipid research trials at practice
- A National Lipid Association job posting lists him as the contact for a lipid and metabolic practice with ongoing lipid research trials and lipoprotein apheresis. lipid.org
- Industry payments reported
- CMS Open Payments shows $171,807.73 across 152 records from 2021 to 2025, led by Amgen ($77,747.05), Regeneron ($45,592.53), and Esperion ($22,459.89). openpaymentsdata.cms.gov
- Federal provider record
- Registered under NPI 1164488037 with an Indiana medical license. npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov
Worth knowing
- Board certifications from the American Board of Medical Specialties (such as internal medicine or cardiovascular disease) were not independently confirmed in the sources reviewed. Patients can ask his office or check ABMS directly. doximity.com
- Some directory sites list inconsistent credential information for him (one shows 'DMD'), which does not match the MD credential listed on his employer and federal provider records. npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov
- His reported industry payments include companies that make cholesterol-lowering drugs and apheresis products, which overlaps with his area of practice. Such payments are common, legal, and publicly reported. openpaymentsdata.cms.gov
Industry payments (CMS Open Payments)
Open the CMS recordFederal law requires drug and device companies to report what they pay clinicians: meals, travel, speaking, consulting, and research. Payments are common and legal; the point is that you can see them.
2021 to 2025
$171,808
152 payments
| 2021 | $42,358 |
| 2022 | $27,153 |
| 2023 | $33,322 |
| 2024 | $26,554 |
| 2025 | $42,421 |
Top payers
- Amgen Inc.$77,747
- Regeneron Healthcare Solutions, Inc.$45,593
- Esperion Therapeutics, Inc.$22,460
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.$15,407
- Kaneka Pharma America LLC$5,302
Payment types
- Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program$145,572
- Consulting Fee$16,375
- Travel and Lodging$5,549
- Food and Beverage$4,312
A word of caution about these numbers
A payment does not mean your doctor is compromised or acting unethically. Most of these entries are drug samples left for patients, or lunch brought in for the office staff, and the amounts are usually small. Research funding and speaking at medical meetings are also normal parts of a clinical career.
As a rough guide, a total under $15,000 a year is usually not a concern. Much larger sums, especially from one company whose product your doctor recommends to you, are worth asking about. You are allowed to ask.
Sources: healthcare.ascension.org · linkedin.com · lipidboard.org · health.usnews.com · doximity.com · lipid.org · healthgrades.com · lipid.org. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
Summary prepared with AI assistance from the public sources linked above. It is not a review, a rating, or an endorsement.
Practice location
Ascension-St Vincent Medical Group
10590 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46290
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