Bill Applegate brings more than 18 years of political and national health care public policy experience to the firm.  He began his career as an aide to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). Applegate’s solid track record as an effective bridge builder speaks for itself. Throughout his career, he has assisted health care associations and corporate clients to impact and shape the development of national health care public policy. These stellar approaches have included the design and implementation of strategic government affairs programs, lobbying, grassroots campaigns and coalition-building to harness the political strengths of organizations in the legislative and regulatory arenas.
At the firm, Applegate primarily works with key congressional, regulatory, and executive-branch decision makers on important public policy issues areas such as health care provider coverage and reimbursement, medical research funding, patient access to specialty care, graduate medical education and health care fraud compliance matters.
Some of Applegate’s health care client partnerships include: American Society of Transplantation, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, The Endocrine Society, Pedorthic Footwear Association, Vision Council of America, and Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society, Health Industry Distributors Association and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. He has been formally recognized by many of these clients for his outstanding service and results.
Prior to joining Bryan Cave Strategies, Applegate served for five years as the Government Relations Director of Arent Fox. He also headed the federal government relations practice of Armstrong Teasdale as Director of Government Relations for three years.  As Manager of Congressional and Regulatory Affairs at the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), Applegate worked aggressively to strengthen health care policy for the clinical laboratory community.  He also worked as the Senior Director of Government Affairs for Smith Bucklin Associates, the largest association management firm in the world.
Applegate was selected by the St. Louis Business Journal as one of their annual “40 Under 40” professionals to watch in the business community.