Meet Our Surgeons

Serving the community for over forty years, our surgeons also practice general surgery at Bayou Surgical Specialists, the largest surgery group in the tri-parish area. We utilize the most current and advanced techniques to perform surgeries of the breast, colon, gallbladder, thyroid, and bowel, colonoscopies, trauma and cancer surgery.  A compassionate and efficient staff, with physicians skilled in advanced laparoscopic, minimally invasive surgical techniques, our goal is exceptional surgical care for every patient.

Dr. Frederick Rau

Dr. Frederick J. Rau graduated from Nicholls State University in 1975 in Biology. He completed his medical school training at Louisiana State Medical Center in New Orleans in 1979. After completing his surgical residency at Louisiana State Medical Center (Charity Hospital) he returned to Houma Louisiana.

  • General, Vascular, and Thoracic /Advanced Laparoscopic / Bariatric Surgeon
  • International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity / American Society for Bariatric Surgery Member
  • Board Certified in General Surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons

Dr. Eric Rau

Dr. Eric Rau majored in Biology at Nicholls State University and received his Doctorate from LSUMC, New Orleans in 1993. He completed his surgical training in 1998 through the LSU Dept of Surgery including the Medical Center of Louisiana Level 1 trauma center (Charity Hospital). During his training at LSU, Dr. Eric researched models for surgically induced infections in obesity. This research garnered an award from The American Federation of Clinical Research and invitations to present the findings at multiple national society meetings. He was named the “Outstanding Surgery Resident of the Year for 1996 and 1997. In his final year at LSU Dept of Surgery, he served as the Administrative Teaching Resident and was recognized with the Professor’s Award for Clinical Excellence. Also in 1998, Dr. Eric became the first LSU surgery resident to be named Resident of the Year for the Medical Center of Louisiana system.

  • General, Vascular, and Thoracic / Advanced Laparoscopic / Bariatric Surgeon
  • International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity / American Society for Bariatric Surgery Member

Dr. Donald P. Schwab, Jr.
M.D. F.A.C.S.

Doctor Schwab completed undergraduate in Pre-Med Biology at Nicholls State University in 1992. He then went on to medical school at LSUNO and graduated in 1996. He completed two years residency at LSU followed by residency at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville South Carolina.

  • General and Thoracic/ Advanced Laparoscopic/ Bariatric Surgeon
  • International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity / American Society for Bariatric Surgery Member

Dr. David J. Rau M.D.

Dr. David Rau completed undergraduate studies at Nicholls State University and went on to post graduate studies in medicine at LSU. He finished in 1984 and continued his residency at LSU affiliate hospital caring for patients through the LSU system. He gained vast experience in trauma and general surgery. Dr. David was also named outstanding Resident of the year for four of the five years and served as chief administrative Resident in 1988

  • General and Thoracic/ Advanced Laparoscopic / Bariatric Surgeon International
  • Federation for the Surgery of Obesity/American Society for Bariatric Surgery Member.