M. Katherine Loudermilk, MD

Becoming a pediatrician was something I have wanted to do since I was a child. My older brother is a pediatrician and trained at Cincinnati Children’s. I was a patient here when I was six years old and vividly remember the Ruth Lyons toys. I was a volunteer in college through the Child Life department. I have organized Christmas caroling through the PICU and hospital units during holidays past. I have grown up with CCHMC as my home away from home.

I attended medical school at UC and took extra electives at Cincinnati Children's while I spent time with my older daughter before starting my pediatric residency here in 1988. My second daughter was born at the end of my residency. I have been on staff here since completing my residency, starting out in private practice in the Cincinnati community. I worked with many healthy and complicated patients, even some home on ventilators. I would frequently round at four or five hospitals every morning before going into the office. Newborns were the highlight of my day.

My career took a turn when I discovered that I could work with many of my favorite colleagues rounding on newborns at the nurseries through Newborn Care Associates. For me, this has been a position that gives me the opportunity to care for families as they welcome newborns into this world. I enjoy teaching them what to expect in the hours, days and weeks after this momentous occasion.
Education of new physicians is also very important to me. I trained with Ellen Burke, MD, one of my favorite pediatricians, in Oxford. She taught me the importance of anticipatory guidance at all levels of development. In turn, I enjoy teaching learners at many levels from residents, medical students, nurse practitioner students, and nursing students about the newborn exam and common issues seen in the first days of life for infants.

Adding to my responsibilities, I am currently the medical director of the Mother Baby Unit at the Good Samaritan Hospital. I help coordinate the administrative responsibilities of managing a large delivering hospital while maintaining a high level of medical care for mothers and their newborn babies. Upholding the high standards of Cincinnati Children's evidence-based practice and implementing new policies and procedures ensures the best care possible for our patients.