Team Spotlight:
Tracy Loudon, MD
January 10, 2025
Emergency Care Partners (ECP) is excited to kick off 2025 by spotlighting Tracy Loudon, MD, a physician from our Illinois-based partner group, Illinois Emergency Medicine Specialists (IEMS). Dr. Loudon is a highly accomplished and Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Physician who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team at IEMS. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Missouri in 2007 with dual bachelor’s degrees in Biological Sciences and Spanish Language, she deepened her knowledge of Hispanic literature at Colegio Mayor Chaminade in Madrid, Spain. Earning her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 2011, Dr. Loudon completed a rigorous Emergency Medicine internship and residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in 2014. Dr Loudon is licensed by the State of Illinois Medical Board and certified by the American Board of Emergency Physicians, she is also DEA certified, ensuring comprehensive and professional care in emergency settings.
Dr. Loudon has an extensive and distinguished history in Emergency Medicine, serving in diverse leadership and clinical roles. She serves as Associate Medical Director of the Department of Emergency Medicine with Illinois Emergency Medicine Specialists. Beyond her clinical responsibilities, she actively contributes as a member of the Hospital Credentialing Committee and serves as Physician Representative for the Region 8 EMS Committee. Prior to this, Dr. Loudon practiced at Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago as an attending physician, collaborating closely with department leadership. Earlier in her career, she excelled at White Memorial Medical Center in East Los Angeles, where she was honored as Emergency Physician of the Year in 2015 and served as the Emergency Physician Liaison for the Chest Pain Center. Additionally, Dr. Loudon gained valuable experience as a per diem attending physician at Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center. Her comprehensive ACLS, PALS, and ATLS certifications reflect her commitment to providing expert, lifesaving care in high-pressure environments.
Interview with Dr. Loudon
Q: When did you decide to become a physician?
I took an unconventional route to become a physician. While attending college as a Spanish literature major, I worked as a patient care tech in the local hospital’s ICU to pay the bills. The night shifts allowed me to attend classes during the day. Over time, I found myself increasingly drawn to the residents rounding in the mornings and the various procedures being performed at the bedside. I realized I was more fascinated by the hospital environment than by my classes, and that moment of clarity led me to change my path abruptly.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with IEMS and ECP?
My favorite part about working with IEMS is the strong sense of community we’ve built together. In emergency medicine, the relationships we have are invaluable for navigating the challenges of our work. There’s a deep bond of trust and mutual respect with the colleagues working alongside you. I joined IEMS eight years ago as my career began to shift toward long-term goals. It’s easy to lose motivation when you’re working shift to shift but being part of a team where you can find a deeper purpose in your work to better the group brings both fulfillment and longevity. What truly stands out about IEMS is that people often stay until retirement—something rare in our field, and a testament to the culture here.
Q: What do you find most exciting about your job?
What excites me most about being an emergency physician is the unique combination of physical and mental challenges it presents. It requires physical stamina and endurance, as well as the ability to perform a wide range of procedures. At the same time, it tests your mental resilience, demanding a broad clinical knowledge, the ability to multitask, and the confidence to take quick, decisive action. There is something uniquely rewarding and forever humbling about the ability to assess and treat undifferentiated patients, knowing that at any moment, anything can walk through the door.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
When I was in training, the best advice I received from an attending was, ‘ER doctors get their loving at home.’ At the time, I didn’t fully understand it, as every day was filled with energy and excitement. However, as my career has progressed, I’ve come to realize the importance of time off and maintaining strong relationships with my spouse, children, family, and friends. We often serve as a sounding board for the frustrations of patients, staff, and colleagues, so achieving balance is crucial for staying positive and present. My family finds relaxation at our lake house in Michigan, and once a year, my husband and I escape for a big trip abroad while leaving the kids with our parents. Last year, we took a 10-day catamaran trip around Croatia with a group of friends. This year’s adventure is welcoming our fourth child, as we’ve learned that adventure comes in many forms.
About Illinois Emergency Medicine Specialists (IEMS):
Founded in 1989, Illinois Emergency Medicine Specialists (IEMS) is an emergency medicine group with a unique democratic partnership and ownership model that attracts emergency medicine professionals seeking a culture of accountability and innovation necessary to meet today’s healthcare challenges. We believe in a collaborative approach that makes our practice indistinguishable from our partner hospitals’ medical and nursing staffs. Working with hospital leadership, we establish shared goals and align physician incentives to reward success and deliver outstanding, high quality, timely, and respectful care.
To learn more about Dr. Loudon, ECP, or IEMS, please fill out our contact form.