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Epidemiology
Epidemiology & Social Sciences
Laura Cassidy, MS, PhD

Laura Cassidy, MS, PhD

Professor and Director, Institute for Health & Humanity; Director of Community Health; Associate Dean Global Health

Locations

  • Primary Appointment: Professor, Epidemiology
  • Secondary Appointments:
    Founding Director of Masters in Global Health Equity
    Research Director, Institute for Health & Humanity
    Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM)
    Director, Surgical, Clinical, and Outcomes Research

Contact Information

Education

PhD, Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh
MS, Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh
BS, Mathematics and Physics, University of Pittsburgh

Biography

Dr. Cassidy is a Professor of Epidemiology with over 20 years of experience in education, research, collaboration, and academic leadership. She holds an MS in Biostatistics and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

At the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), Dr. Cassidy currently serves as Director of the Institute for Health & Humanity and Associate Dean of Global Health. She is also a 2018 graduate fellow of the prestigious Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program.

Over the years, she has held several key leadership roles at MCW, including:

  • Founding Director of the MS in Global Health Equity program
  • Director of the PhD program in Public & Community Health
  • Director of the Division of Epidemiology and Social Sciences
  • Director of Pediatric Surgical Research

Dr. Cassidy is dedicated to advancing health and well-being both locally and globally through transdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. Her research spans pediatric surgery, traumatic injury, Native American health, resilience, global health, and occupational and environmental epidemiology. She has authored over 140 publications and led numerous research projects funded by HRSA, EMSC, NIH, AHW, RWJF, and other major.

Her global health work includes conducting occupational epidemiology studies in Russia and Northern Ireland. She has contributed to the development of trauma registries in both Haiti and Nigeria. Additionally, she has established longstanding partnerships in countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Nepal and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Health Builders in Rwanda.

In recognition of her contributions, Dr. Cassidy has received multiple honors, including the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Dynamic Leadership Award and the Wisconsin Public Health Association’s 2021 Distinguished Service to Public Health Award.

Honors and Awards

2016, Present Mentor of the Year-Graduate Student Award, Medical College of Wisconsin
2016, Present Outstanding Graduate School Teacher of the Year, Medical College of Wisconsin
2017-2018, Fellow-Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM)
2021, Marcus Performing Arts Center's Dynamic Leadership
2021, Wisconsin Public Health Association Distinguished Service to Public Health

Leadership Positions

  • Associate Dean of Global Health
  • Founding Director Master of Science in Global Health Equity

Publications

Publications of Laura Cassidy PhD from the Faculty Collaboration Database

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