Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Abdul El-Sayed
Discover the career path of Abdul El-Sayed, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Abdul El-Sayed is an American physician, former public health professor, and politician. He served as the director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services for Wayne County, Michigan, from 2023 to 2025. A progressive Democrat, El-Sayed ran for governor of Michigan in 2018 and is currently a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan. His background in public health informs his political activism and policy positions.
4 hours ago : Abdul El-Sayed Faces Controversy in Michigan Senate Primary Due to Hasan Piker Ties.
Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Senate campaign faced scrutiny as Hasan Piker's views sparked controversy. Centrist Democrats and Arab Americans reacted to El-Sayed's association with Piker, impacting the primary race.
2011: Doctorate in Public Health
In 2011, El-Sayed completed a doctorate in public health at Oriel College, Oxford, where he also earned a full blue as captain of the men's lacrosse team.
2014: Assistant Professor at Columbia University
In 2014, El-Sayed became an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University.
2014: Completes MD at Columbia University
In 2014, El-Sayed completed his MD at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, funded by the Soros Fellowship for New Americans and Medical Scientist Training Program.
February 25, 2017: Announcement of Candidacy
On February 25, 2017, El-Sayed officially announced his candidacy for governor of Michigan.
2017: Publication of "Systems Science and Population Health"
In 2017, "Systems Science and Population Health", a textbook co-edited by El-Sayed and Sandro Galea, was published by Oxford University Press.
2017: Resignation to Run for Governor
In 2017, El-Sayed resigned from his position as health director to run for governor.
2017: Endorsements for Gubernatorial Campaign
In 2017, El-Sayed was endorsed by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Linda Sarsour, Justice Democrats, and The Nation magazine for his gubernatorial campaign.
September 2018: Founded Southpaw Michigan
In September 2018, El-Sayed founded Southpaw Michigan, a political action committee, to help elect progressive candidates and support ballot initiatives in Michigan.
2018: El-Sayed's Gubernatorial Campaign
In 2018, Abdul El-Sayed ran for governor of Michigan as a progressive Democrat, but he was not elected.
2018: Support for repealing Michigan state laws
In 2018, El-Sayed supported repealing Michigan state laws that block local governments from levying a municipal sales tax or enacting rent control laws.
2019: America Dissected Podcast
Since 2019, El-Sayed has hosted America Dissected with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a podcast about politics and public health produced by Crooked Media.
2020: Bernie Sanders Surrogate
In 2020, El-Sayed served as a national campaign surrogate for Bernie Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign.
2020: Unity Task Force on healthcare
In 2020, El-Sayed served on the Joe Biden–Bernie Sanders Unity Task Force on healthcare.
December 2022: Named Director of Wayne County's Department of Health
In December 2022, El-Sayed was named director of Wayne County's Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services, pending approval by the county commission.
March 2023: Assumed Role as Director
In March 2023, El-Sayed assumed the role of director of Wayne County's Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services.
2023: Director of Wayne County's Department of Health
In 2023, Abdul El-Sayed served as the director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services for Wayne County, Michigan, from 2023 to 2025.
April 2025: Resignation as Director
In April 2025, El-Sayed resigned from his position as the director of Wayne County's Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services.
April 17, 2025: Announcement of Senate Candidacy
On April 17, 2025, El-Sayed announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan.
2025: El-Sayed's Tenure as Director Ends
In 2025, Abdul El-Sayed's tenure as the director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services for Wayne County ended.
2025: Campaign Priority on Clean Air and Water
In 2025, El-Sayed's campaign website identified clean air and water as a priority.
2026: Senate Election
El-Sayed announced his candidacy for the 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan.
2026: El-Sayed runs for Senate
In 2026, El-Sayed is running for the Democratic nomination in the United States Senate election in Michigan.
2030: Advisory Committee to Healthy People 2030
El-Sayed served on the Advisory Committee to the US Secretary of Health & Human Services for Healthy People 2030.
2030: Renewable Energy Goal
In 2018, El-Sayed called for achieving "100% renewable energy" in the state by 2030.
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