14531-Kao, Louise
Faculty

Louise W. Kao, MD

Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Address
Poison Center Methodist B412
EMER
IN
Indianapolis, IN
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Bio

Louise grew up in Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago.  The Emergency Medicine bug first bit while she was in college at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  As a first aid worker for intramural sports, she looked forward to assisting injured players with the limited contents of a basic first aid kid and ice.  While in medical school at Rush Medical College (1993-7), she co-founded an Emergency Medicine interest group - whose success was substantially assisted by the popularity of the TV show "ER".  While at Rush, Louise also worked in the Illinois Poison Center as a Poison Information Specialist and discovered that she also enjoyed toxicology as a discipline.

Louise made the long trek to the Hoosier state for Emergency Medicine residency and then Medical Toxicology training at Methodist/IUSOM.  She joined the Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology faculty in 2002 and currently serves as the Fellowship director for the Medical Toxicology Fellowship at IUSOM as well as the director of the toxicology rotation.  She has authored numerous works in the Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology literature and has collaborated in research projects.  Currently she edits a FOAM-ED series ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearls for Academic Life in Emergency Medicine (ALiEM). She served as the President for the American College of Medical Toxicology from 2021-2023 and is active in the ACMT Research, Fellowship Director, Education, and Membership Committees. When not at work, Louise enjoys hiking, gardening, biking, and spending time with friends and family.

Key Publications

Kao L, Tormoehlen L, Froberg B.  Chronic Poisoning:  Trace Metals and others.  In: Goldman L & Schaefer AI (eds): Cecil-Goldman Medicine, 27th Ed. 2023; Philadelphia PA:  Elsevier Inc.

Pizon AF, Kao L, Mycyk MB et al. Demand for Medical Toxicology Fellowship Training Is at an All-Time High. J. Med. Toxicol. 2023 Jan; 19(1): 1-3.PMID: 36469243

Kao L, Burns M, Murphy C et al. Opening Doors to Training Medical Toxicology Fellows from All Residency Backgrounds. J. Med. Toxicol. 18, 1–3 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13181-021-00870-3

Nanagas K, Penfound S, Kao L.  Carbon Monoxide Toxicity.  Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, April 2022; ISSN 0733-8627, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2022.01.005.

Expert Reviewer for: Katz K & O’Connor A: EMRA and ACMT Medical Toxicology Guide, 2nd Edition, Emergency Medicine Residents Association, 2022.

Goldfine C, Lung D, Beauchamp G, O'Connor A, Stolbach A, Kao L, Judge B, Wax P, Patwari R, Kazzi Z. Consensus Development of a Core Content for a Standardized Medical Toxicology Curriculum for Medical Students. J Med Toxicol. 2022 Jan 28. doi: 10.1007/s13181-021-00874-z. PMID: 35089533.

Acharya SP, Purpura A, Kao L, House DR. Incidence and risk factors for carbon monoxide poisoning in an emergency department in Nepal, Toxicology Communications, 2022: 6:1, 13-19, DOI: 10.1080/24734306.2021.2010955

Haut L, Lutfi R, Kao L, Ackerman L.  Acute Cytotoxic Cerebellar Edema Subsequent to Fentanyl Patch Intoxication in an Infant.  Case Reports in Critical Care, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9449565

Kao L, Pizon A.  Medical Toxicology Fellowship Training Is Available to Applicants from Many Specialties.  J Med Toxicol. 2018 May 21.PMID 29785474

Titles & Appointments

  • Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
  • Fellowship Director, Indiana University Medical Toxicology
  • Education
    2002 FEL Fellowship, Medical Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine
    1997 RES Residency, Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine
    1997 MD Rush University
    1993 BS University of Illinois
  • Professional Organizations
    American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
    American Academy of Emergency Medicine
    American College of Emergency Physicians
    American College of Medical Toxicology
    Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
  • Board Certifications
    American Board of Emergency Medicine - Emergency Medicine
    American Board of Emergency Medicine - Medical Toxicology
  • Awards
    Org: American College of Medical Toxicology
    Desc: Education Service Award
    Scope: National
    Date: 2019-03-01
    Org: Indiana University
    Desc: Trustee Teaching Award
    Scope: University
    Date: 2019-03-01
    Org: American Women's Medical Association
    Desc: Exceptional Mentor Award
    Scope: National
    Date: 2018-06-01

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