Dr. Michael McLoughlin Receives Laureate Award from the Iowa Chapter of the American College of Physicians
Dr. Michael McLoughlin, Internal Medicine provider at Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics in Clarion, recently received the Laureate Award from the Iowa Chapter of the American College of Physicians at their 2025 annual awards ceremony, which was held in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 9, 2025.
The Laureate Award honors Fellows and Masters of the College who have demonstrated, by their example and conduct, an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, or research and in service to their community, their Chapter, and the American College of Physicians. In order to win this award, the ACP requires that candidates be an experienced physician and Fellow or Master of long-standing, with acknowledged experience and peer approval in the field of internal medicine. In addition, the candidates should have served the Iowa Chapter of ACP with distinction.
Dr. McLoughlin received the Laureate Award due to being a long-standing and loyal supporter of the College, having rendered distinguished service to the Chapter, and by having upheld the high ideals and professional standards for which the college is known.
The ACP Iowa Chapter Laureate Award reads: “Dr. Michael McLoughlin, MD, MS, FACP, was born in Ames, Iowa, and grew up all around the state of Iowa as the oldest of 6 siblings in a wonderful family headed by his parents, Brian and Marie. He graduated from St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge. He then completed his undergraduate education at Central College, where he also ran cross-country and track, which he now works to apply in the medical profession. He then completed a Master’s degree in exercise psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. McLoughlin’s thesis research used functional MRI to understand how physical activity levels related to mechanisms of processing in fibromyalgia patients. While in graduate school, he decided to pursue a career in medicine. A tremendously supportive graduate school mentor allowed him to pursue the prerequisites for medical school while completing his graduate studies, which eventually led to his matriculation at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. It was there that he met his wife, Andrea. After completing his medical degree in 2013, he completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Iowa-Des Moines program and was named the outstanding senior resident.
After residency, Dr. McLoughlin worked as an academic hospitalist for one year at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA, while his wife, Dr. Andrea McLoughlin, completed a fellowship. Soon after, they returned to Iowa where they have resided in Clarion and practiced at Iowa Specialty Hospital since 2017.
Dr. McLoughlin currently practices outpatient general internal medicine, and he has been the medical director of Wright County Public Health since 2020. He also served as the director of inpatient medicine at the Iowa Specialty Hospital locations in Belmond and Clarion until early 2025 and gets to participate in medical education of students from both Des Moines University and the University of Iowa. Clinically, Dr. McLoughlin most enjoys getting to take care of the whole patient and providing quality care even when a patient is unable to travel to a larger center where specialists are available.
Drs. Michael and Andrea McLoughlin are parents to three wonderful children: Lillian (6), Celia (4), and Eli (2). They love to spend family time traveling and exploring the great outdoors. In whatever free time he can find, Dr. McLoughlin loves to run and bike.
When asked about his award, Dr. McLoughlin stated, 'I am deeply honored to receive the Laureate Award from ACP. The list of prior honorees includes numerous mentors who I deeply respect. I am grateful for their mentorship both personally and professionally, as well as humbled to be included alongside them. Connection with ACP and the committed physicians who are part of it has long been an inspiration in pursuing the highest ideals of our profession.'”
Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics congratulates Dr. Michael McLoughlin on receiving this prestigious award.
To learn more about the American College of Physicians – Iowa Chapter, visit their website at https://www.iowaacp.org/
To learn more about Dr. Michael McLoughlin, visit his provider profile on Iowa Specialty Hospital’s website at https://www.iowaspecialtyhospital.com/doctors/michael-mcloughlin.
Pictured: Dr. Michael McLoughlin
Provider at Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics and recent ACP-Iowa Chapter Laureate Award recipient
