The Medical Toxicology Fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine produces physicians capable of providing care to any poisoned patient.

Medical Toxicology Fellowship

The Division of Medical Toxicology at Indiana University School of Medicine produces physicians capable of providing care to any poisoned patient. Training in the Medical Toxicology Fellowship program offers:

Hands-on management of poised patients at two large inner-city hospitals and a large children's hospital - all regional and statewide tertiary referral centers
Consultations through the Indiana Poison Center regarding poisoned patients throughout the state of Indiana and surrounding areas
Weekly didactics covering all areas of toxicology
Outpatient clinic for neurotoxicology cases
Opportunities for basic science and clinical research in the field of toxicology
Involvement in forensic toxicology cases
Clinical education of residents and students rotating on the toxicology service
Mentored scholarly and quality improvement projects
Dedicated didactic series featuring topics to enhance the academic career

Learn more about the program curriculum

Learn more about research in the Medical Toxicology Fellowship

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The Medical Toxicology Fellowship program participates in the National Resident Matching Program and the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)

How to apply

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

IU School of Medicine values diversity and is committed to advancing culturally competent medical education, clinical care, and research.

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Clinical Services

Indiana Poison Control center staff at work in the call center

Indiana Poison Center

The Indiana Poison Center (IPC) is an independent nonprofit agency providing coverage and services for the state of Indiana. It serves as both an emergency telephone service and an information resource center, with services available to the general public and health care professionals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The IPC is the designated Regional Poison Information Center for Indiana and is certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). It is a collaborative effort of the Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana University Health, the Federal HRSA Poison Control Program and health care providers throughout the state. Services are confidential and free to the public.

Contact: 800-222-1222

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Drs. Brenner and Harris talk through a case in the clinic

Medical Toxicology Consulting Services

Medical Toxicology is active in community and medical staff education, and a clinical toxicology rotation is available to medical students and house staff. Medical Toxicology supports an inpatient clinical toxicology consult service at IU Health Methodist Hospital, Eskenazi Hospital, IU Health University Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. Started in 1992, the toxicology clinical service currently sees approximately 600 patients a year. Six board certified medical toxicology faculty run the service.

Clinical Venues

All of our clinical venues are within a 1.5-mile radius.

IU Health Methodist Hospital

Urban tertiary referral center nationally recognized for stroke care and organ transplants
Home base for toxicology team and poison center
Level 1 Trauma Center
Emergency Department with more than 90,000 patients per year; 20% admission rate
More than 550 beds and over 130 critical care beds
ECMO capability

Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

One of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals with more than 370 beds
Nationally ranked specialties, including cancer, cardiology, diabetes and neurology
Indiana’s only pediatric Level 1 Trauma Center
Emergency Department with more than 50,000 patients per year; 17% admission rate

IU Health University Hospital

Academic teaching and referral hospital
Home to the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indiana’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center
Leading organ transplant center

Medical Toxicology Faculty

Louise Kao, MD, FACMT

Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Medical Toxicology Fellowship Director
Medical Toxicology Resident Rotation Director
Immediate Past President of American College of Medical Toxicology
ALIEM Editor - Toxicology Visual Pearls
Emergency Medicine Faculty, IU Health Methodist Hospital

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Kris Nanagas, MD, FACMT

Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Division Chief, Medical Toxicology
Orientation Committee
Emergency Department Disaster Response Team
Emergency Medicine Faculty, IU Health Methodist Hospital

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Blake Froberg, MD, FACMT

Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Clinical Pediatrics

Medical Director of the Indiana Poison Center
Pediatric Hospitalist, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

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Mary E. Wermuth, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Director of Medical Toxicology Service
IU Emergency Medicine Women's Mentoring Group
Exceptional Mentor Award, IU School of Medicine
Co-founder, Medical Toxicology Clinical Service
Emergency Medicine Faculty, IU Health Methodist Hospital

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Robert S. Avera, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Medical Toxicology Medical Student Clerkship Director
Emergency Medicine Faculty, IU Health Methodist Hospital and IU Health West Hospital

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Adam Overberg, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT

Director, Indiana Poison Center
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Indiana University Health

Dan Rusyniak, MD, FACMT - Volunteer Faculty

Professor of Emergency Medicine

Secretary, Indiana Family and Social Service Administration
Dantastic Mr. Tox Podcast
Tox and Hound blog on EM-Crit
Emergency Medicine Faculty, Eskenazi Health

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Brent Furbee, MD, FACMT - Emeritus Faculty

Professor Emeritus of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Established Medical Toxicology Resident Rotation (1998) and Fellowship (1995)
Founder of Medical Toxicology Clinical Service
Section Chair, ACMT Legal Section
Plants and Envenomations expert

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Laura Tormoehlen, MD, FACMT, FAAN

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and Emergency Medicine

Director of Adult Neurology Services, IU Health Methodist Hospital
Vice Chair for Clinical Practice, IU Department of Neurology
Associate Program Director, IU Neurology Residency Program
Neurotoxicology Clinic
Neurology Faculty, IU Health Methodist Hospital

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Medical Toxicology Fellows

Rafael A. Lima, MD

Rafael "Rafa" graduated from medical school at Baylor College of Medicine and completed residency in Emergency Medicine at Northwestern University. During medical school, he was president of EMIG and led numerous educational workshops with a focus in medical simulation. He also served as director of volunteers of a statewide CPR instruction initiative. During residency, he tutored medical students, participated in clinical research on fentanyl test strips, and was an analytic chair for the very popular residency open access medical education website. He is interested in clinical care, bedside teaching, and education and is looking forward to expanding his skills during fellowship. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with his Australian cattle dog, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

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Kathy Kimpel, MD

Kathryn (Kathy) Kimpel originally hails from Seattle, Washington, but recently has been all over the country. She got her medical degree from the University of Washington SOM, and completed her Emergency Medicine residency at St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, NY. Her interests in Toxicology include addiction medicine/MAT, toxic alcohols, and snake envenomation. She loves hiking, reading, true crime podcasts, and watching funny cat videos in her free time. She is thrilled to be joining the Hoosier family!

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The toxicology fellows and faculty group photo in front of a luscious green garden.

Alumni

Shawn Luo, MD – 2024
Arthur Daigh, MD – 2023
Marielle Brenner, MD – 2022
Bryan Ross, MD – 2021
Robert Avera, MD - 2020
Jerry Snow, MD – 2015
Laura Tormoehlen, MD – 2012
Jen Acciani, MD – 2011
Anna Arroyo, MD – 2010
Blake Froberg, MD – 2007
Danyal Ibrahim, MD – 2006
Ayrn O’Connor, MD – 2005
Kris Nanagas, MD – 2004
Bryan Judge, MD – 2003
Louise Kao, MD – 2002
Lisa Snyder, MD, MPH – 2001
Daniel Rusyniak, MD – 2001
William Dribben, MD – 2000
Christopher Holstege, MD – 1998
Mary Wermuth, MD – 1997
Jane Witman, MD – 1996