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.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

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.

August 2015: Appointment as Detroit Health Officer

In August 2015, Mike Duggan appointed El-Sayed as Health Officer and Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department, making him the youngest health officer in a major U.S. city at the time.

2015: Executive Director of Detroit Health Department

In 2015, El-Sayed became the executive director of the Detroit Health Department and Health Officer for the City of Detroit.

February 9, 2017: Report of El-Sayed's Resignation

On February 9, 2017, the Detroit News reported that El-Sayed would resign as health director to run for governor of Michigan in the 2018 Democratic Party primary.

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.