Iowa Poison Control Center staff are uniquely trained to assess, triage and manage poisoning emergencies. The poison information specialists are nurses and pharmacists who are certified as “Specialists in Poison Information” by America's Poison Centers

Iowa Poison Control Center Staff includes:

Linda B. Kalin RN, BS, CSPI
Executive Director

712.279.3710
linda.kalin@unitypoint.org

Linda Kalin is the Executive Director of the Iowa Poison Control Center. She has over 25 years of experience in clinical toxicology and poison center activities. Linda began her career as an emergency room nurse and in 1989 became Iowa’s first Certified Specialist in Poison Information.  She was instrumental in the development of the statewide poison control center established in 2000. She is an adjunct faculty member and preceptor for the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Drake College of Pharmacy and was awarded Preceptor of the Year by both universities. Linda has held leadership and service positions in many national and local professional organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. She is a frequent lecturer and speaker on topics involving drugs of abuse and general poison management. Linda has been honored as one of 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2012.


Daniel J. McCabe, MD 
Medical Director

Dr. Dan McCabe is a medical toxicologist and emergency medicine physician at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Iowa and the Director of the Division of Medical Toxicology at UIHC. Dr. McCabe received his medical degree from the University of Iowa. He completed a residency in emergency medicine at Cook County Hospital and a fellowship in medical toxicology at the Regions Hospital/Minnesota Poison Control System. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology. Dr. McCabe has a broad range of interests including improvement of care for the poisoned patient, toxicology, addiction medicine, resource utilization, and public health.


Josh Trebach, MD
Associate Medical Director

Dr. Joshua Trebach is a medical toxicologist and emergency physician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC). He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UIHC and serves as the Director of Resident Medical Toxicology Education. Dr. Trebach received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was Chief Resident. Dr. Trebach completed his medical toxicology fellowship training at New York University/New York City Poison Control Center. Dr. Trebach is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology. Dr. Trebach's interests include medical education, public health, clinical research, disaster preparedness, LGBTQ health, plants, mushrooms, and all things toxicology!


Grant J. Houselog, PharmD, CSPI 
Clinical Director

712.293.7752
Grant.Houselog@unitypoint.org

Grant Houselog is the Clinical Director of the Iowa Poison Control Center. As a native and life-long Iowan, he earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2016 and immediately joined the IPCC team as a staff pharmacist. In 2018 he became a Certified Specialist in Poison Information and was promoted to his current position in 2020.

Grant serves as the primary preceptor for pharmacy students from the University of Iowa, Drake University, South Dakota State University, and Creighton University on rotation at IPCC. He lectures annually at the University of Iowa and Drake University Colleges of Pharmacy; for both of which he has appointments as an Adjunct Assistant Professor. He also serves on several committees and boards of national, state, and local organizations.


Howard Burns, Associate Medical Director

Howard Burns, MD, FACEP, FACMT
Associate Medical Director

605.338.5378

Dr. Howard Burns graduated from Temple University Medical School in 1976 after graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1972 with a major in zoology. He began his career in emergency medicine at the John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, AZ, and moved to Sioux Falls, SD, in 1979, working for Emergency Medicine Physicians, PC, at McKennan (currently Avera McKennan) Hospital.  He served as the Medical Director of both the ED and the former McKennan Poison Control Center. In the mid 1980's, he obtained board certification in both emergency medicine and medical toxicology and he later became a fellow of both Colleges. He currently is the only board-certified medical toxicologist in the state of South Dakota. His present practice includes: full-time emergency medicine at Avera St. Lukes Hospital in Aberdeen, SD, working with South Dakota Department of Health in their disaster preparedness program as an expert in chemical and radiation incidents, educator for the Avera St. Luke’s rotorcraft Careflight program, and medical director for the Ellendale Ambulance Service in North Dakota. His toxicology practice includes acting as the Associate Medical Director for the Iowa Poison Control Center, disaster preparedness activities, toxicology specialty consultations, and medicolegal work in emergency medicine and toxicology. In his off time, he enjoys outdoor sports, archery, hunting, and fishing. He is also an avid foosball (table soccer) player and is a past National Champion in the "forward shootout" event.


Marielle Brenner, MD
Assistant Medical Director

Dr. Marielle Brenner is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology at the University of Iowa. She received her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin. She completed her training in Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and her training in Medical Toxicology at Indiana University. She is board certified in both Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology. She serves as the Medical Toxicology Course Director at University of Iowa serving students and trainees from both the University of Iowa and Drake University. Her interests include acute poisoning, drugs of abuse, acetaminophen poisoning, medical education, and research.


 Josh Radke, MD
IPCC Consultant and Medical Toxicology Fellowship Director

Dr. Josh Radke is a medical toxicologist, Emergency Medicine, and Addiction Medicine physician as well as a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He is the Program Director for the Medical Toxicology fellowship. Dr. Radke is also the Medical Director for the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition. Dr. Radke received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Iowa. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency and his fellowship in Medical Toxicology at the University of California Davis Medical Center. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology, and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Radke’s interests include improving the care for patients with substance use disorders and those with acute poisonings, and medical education.


Others
The Iowa Poison Control Center is fortunate to have consultants in a variety of specific fields including: plant and mushroom identification, snake identification and snake bite treatment, hyperbaric medicine, radiation, occupational toxins and environmental toxins.


In Memoriam

Edward Bottei, MD, FCCP, FACMT
Our beloved friend, colleague and Iowa Poison Control Center Medical Director of 20 years passed away on April 27, 2022.  Dr. Edward Bottei, known simply as “Ed,” was a brilliant man—quadruple-boarded physician-scientist and master clinician. This extraordinary teacher, mentor and dear friend was also well known for his limitless kindness and generosity. Ed’s significant contributions to medical toxicology, the State of Iowa, and the Iowa Poison Control Center demonstrate the passion and dedication that he had for the field of toxicology and his work. He published numerous research studies and served on several statewide and national committees and advisory boards. He developed a fun and engaging jeopardy-style game for Specialists in Poison Information (“SPI Jeopardy”), which became a popular annual session for SPIs at the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology. Beyond his many accomplishments and achievements, Dr. Bottei was greatly loved and respected by his colleagues throughout the poison center communities, his hundreds of students, and his IPCC family. His loss is deeply felt by all those who had the honor to know him. Always in our hearts. You will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.