Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Michigan, often refers to himself as a “doctor” in his campaign. However, records reveal he doesn’t hold a medical license in either Michigan or New York. His campaign has heavily emphasized his medical background, claiming experience as a physician. While he does have a degree, investigations show he has never been licensed to practice medicine, according to reports.
New York law restricts individuals without a medical license from identifying as “physicians,” a title El-Sayed has claimed multiple times. Similarly, Michigan law prohibits behaviors that might imply someone is authorized to practice medicine without a license. El-Sayed’s practical medical experience consists of just a four-week clinical rotation, which he humorously compared to “cosplaying” as a doctor in a podcast.
Chris DeWitt, a Michigan Democrat strategist, noted there’s a misconception in Michigan about El-Sayed being a licensed physician, which could undermine his campaign significantly. Despite public statements claiming his medical status, El-Sayed has referred to himself as a “physician and epidemiologist” during debates and even used an image of himself in a doctor’s coat for fundraising efforts.
El-Sayed’s spokesperson defended his credentials, saying he has dedicated his career to enhancing healthcare in Michigan through various public health initiatives. These include efforts to reduce medical debt and improve access to vital services like Narcan.
As the campaign progresses, El-Sayed continues to list himself as a “physician and epidemiologist” on his LinkedIn profile. Some experts, however, are skeptical, suggesting he should focus more on his accomplishments in public health rather than embellishing his medical past. There’s a sense that leaning into his practical experience might serve him better than the misleading claim of being a practicing doctor.
Critics in the Democratic primary have also begun to scrutinize El-Sayed’s background. Other candidates have highlighted that he has never truly practiced medicine, making it questionable how he can base his political platform on such credentials. In fact, even in a 2018 interview, El-Sayed discussed various interpretations of being a physician, arguing that his work is faithful to the ethics of medicine.
Ultimately, as tensions heighten in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, El-Sayed’s claims and background are becoming more contentious points of debate, raising questions about his candidacy.
