History of Abdul El-Sayed in Timeline

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

October 31, 1984: Birth of Abdul El-Sayed

On October 31, 1984, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed was born. He later became an American physician, public health professor, government official, and politician.

Others born on this day/year

2003: Graduation from High School

In 2003, El-Sayed graduated from Bloomfield Hills Andover High School, where he was a three-sport athlete and captain of the football and lacrosse teams.

2007: Graduation from the University of Michigan

In 2007, El-Sayed graduated from the University of Michigan with Highest Distinction, winning the William Jennings Bryan Prize for Political Science and delivering the student commencement speech in front of president Bill Clinton.

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.

2012: Detroit's Municipal Bankruptcy

In 2012, government public health activities were provided by a nonprofit before the City of Detroit's municipal bankruptcy.

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.

2016: Crain's Detroit's "40 under 40"

In 2016, El-Sayed was named one of Crain's Detroit's "40 under 40" and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters' "Public Official of the Year".

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.

2017: Bicentennial Alumni Award

In 2017, the University of Michigan awarded El-Sayed a Bicentennial Alumni Award.

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.

March 2022: Condemnation of Russo-Ukrainian War

In March 2022, El-Sayed called the Russo-Ukrainian war "a war between democracy and autocracy, between self-government and fascism", condemning Russian president Vladimir Putin.

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.

January 2024: Criticism of Gaza War

In January 2024, El-Sayed criticized Israel's conduct in the Gaza war, calling it a public health catastrophe and calling for a ceasefire during a podcast.