U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. | 2025 LSU Hall of Distinction Honoree
As part of our celebration of our 2025 LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction, we recognize honoree U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., (1979 BACH SCI, 1983 MD) whose journey from LSU student to national leader exemplifies a lifetime of service, innovation, and impact.
Growing up in Baton Rouge, Cassidy chose to stay close to home, enrolling at Louisiana State University for both his undergraduate and medical degrees. LSU, he says, was transformational.
“LSU was catalytic in changing my life from a high school senior to my current position,” he reflects.
That transformation would eventually lead him from the hospital to Capitol Hill, but not before making a lasting impact on Louisiana’s medical and educational systems.
Cassidy graduated from LSU in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science and from LSU School of Medicine (LSU Health) in 1983 with his Doctor of Medicine. He completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at the University of Southern California Medical Center. In 1990, he returned to Louisiana and joined the faculty at LSU School of Medicine (LSU Health). There, he taught medical students and residents at Earl K. Long Hospital, a facility that was dedicated to serving the uninsured.
Beyond his academic and clinical duties, Cassidy took action to expand healthcare access in his community. While working at the LSU School of Medicine, he co-founded the Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic, which offered free health and dental care to working individuals without insurance. He also created a private-public partnership that enabled 36,000 children in the Baton Rouge area to receive free Hepatitis B vaccinations—an initiative that placed prevention and public health at the forefront.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the Gulf Coast, Cassidy helped lead a team of healthcare professionals to convert an abandoned K-Mart into an emergency medical facility. It became a lifeline for evacuees in need of urgent care, showcasing his ability to adapt, lead, and serve under pressure.
Cassidy entered public service in 2008, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana’s Sixth District. Six years later in 2014, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2020, he secured a second term and has since become a leading voice in national health and education policy.
In 2025, Cassidy was named Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee—the first physician to hold the position since 1933. His leadership spans a wide policy portfolio, from lowering healthcare costs and reforming mental health services to advancing coastal restoration projects that protect Louisiana families from natural disasters. He also serves on the Senate Finance Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee.
Cassidy’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Over the years, he has received numerous awards recognizing his work in public service, healthcare, and fiscal responsibility. Among them are the GRAMMYs on the Hill Award from the Recording Academy, the Fiscal Hero Award from the Campaign to Fix the Debt, and the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business.
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D.
Despite the national stage he now occupies, Sen. Bill Cassidy remains closely tied to the Baton Rouge community that shaped him. He and his wife, Dr. Laura Cassidy, a retired surgeon, have raised their family in Louisiana. They have three children and attend the Chapel on the Campus in Baton Rouge.
Learn more about the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction.