SouthernWorldwide.com – Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing criticism over his self-description as a “physician” on the campaign trail and in public biographies, as records indicate he has never held a medical license in Michigan or New York.
A significant portion of El-Sayed’s campaign has centered on his medical background, particularly his claimed experience as a physician. While he does possess a medical degree, public records from New York and Michigan, as reviewed by Politico, show no evidence of him ever being licensed to practice medicine.
New York state law explicitly prohibits individuals without a medical license from identifying themselves as “physicians.” El-Sayed, however, used this title on at least two occasions while in New York. Similarly, Michigan law prevents individuals from creating the impression that they are licensed to practice medicine.
El-Sayed’s direct medical experience was limited to a four-week clinical rotation completed after medical school. He himself described this experience in a 2022 podcast as “cosplaying [as] a doctor,” according to Politico.
Chris Dewitt, a Michigan Democratic strategist, commented to Politico that the perception in Michigan was that El-Sayed was, at one point, a licensed physician. He added that this revelation, if untrue, significantly undermines a key aspect of El-Sayed’s campaign.
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El-Sayed has consistently presented himself to the public as a physician.
For instance, during a debate hosted by the Council of Baptist Pastors in April, El-Sayed identified himself as “a physician and epidemiologist.” When Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., referred to El-Sayed as a “physician” in 2025, El-Sayed did not correct the senator. In June, El-Sayed’s campaign used a photograph of him wearing a doctor’s coat in a fundraising appeal.
Richner, a representative for El-Sayed, stated that Dr. El-Sayed has extensively discussed his medical school experiences that led him to public health and subsequently to public service. He highlighted El-Sayed’s career focused on improving healthcare for Michiganders through innovative public health programs, including the elimination of up to $700 million in medical debt, increased access to Narcan, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art air quality monitoring network.
As of Thursday, El-Sayed’s LinkedIn profile continues to describe him as a “physician and epidemiologist.” His biographies also indicate he holds a PhD in public health from the University of Oxford.
Adrian Hemond, a Michigan Democratic consultant, told Politico that it’s an unusual choice to emphasize a biographical detail like being a physician if one has never actually practiced medicine. He suggested that El-Sayed could have instead focused on his work in public health programming for Wayne County and the city of Detroit, rather than giving the impression of having practiced medicine.
El-Sayed’s Democratic primary rivals have also taken note of the scrutiny. The campaign of State Senator Mallory McMorrow, who is competing against El-Sayed for the Democratic nomination, has accused him of exaggerating the medical credentials that form a central part of his Senate bid.
This is not the first time El-Sayed’s medical background has faced questioning.
In 2018, Crain’s Detroit Business published an article that contrasted El-Sayed’s claim of being a physician with his lack of a medical license.
At the time, El-Sayed told Crain’s Detroit Business that there are many ways to serve as a physician and that his work aligns with the core ethos of medicine. He added that he took the Hippocratic Oath, which continues to guide his work, and considers himself a physician both because he has an MD and because of his career dedication.
El-Sayed has explained that he entered politics over medicine because he believes poverty is the root cause of many health issues in the United States.
Critics of El-Sayed have focused on the recent reports. Samantha Cantrell, NRSC Regional press secretary, told the Washington Examiner that the Michigan Democratic Senate primary is so disorganized that the candidate who is “cosplaying as an Egyptian citizen and licensed physician” is still performing better than Chuck Schumer’s preferred candidate.
