Abdul El-Sayed boasts of being a MD, but he can't work as one
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Abdul El-Sayed boasts on the campaign trail that he's a doctor, not a politician.
His LinkedIn profile describes him as a "physician." The Michigan U.S. Senate candidate claims that if elected to the Senate, he would be the only Democratic member of that chamber who is a medical doctor.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, in campaigning for the Democrat El-Sayed, touted his credentials as a physician, saying his profession lends credibility to his Medicare For All push. El-Sayed contends being a medical doctor gives him a unique perspective on reforming health care in America.
The impression conveyed is of someone whose occupation is healing the sick. El-Sayed doesn't do that.
Yes, he holds a medical degree, and from a very good school, Columbia. So he has earned, from an academic standpoint, the title of doctor. But he stopped well short of completing the requirements for legally practicing as a physician and has never done so.
Before he can legally function as an MD, El-Sayed would have to pass licensing exams and go through the other steps necessary to obtain a medical license. He hasn't done that. He is not licensed to practice medicine in Michigan or anywhere else.
He also holds a doctorate degree in epidemiology. But that also doesn't qualify him to treat patients.
When he says the words "doctor" or "physician" on the campaign trail, voters assign to them a very specific meaning, picturing a white coat and stethoscope. El-Sayed not only lets that false impression persist uncorrected, but he exploits it in his advertising. He understands that physicians occupy a unique position of trust in American society.
But El-Sayed also skipped another essential step toward honestly being able to claim membership in their ranks. He never completed a medical internship or residency.
To get a full, unrestricted medical license in the United States, a medical school graduate must complete one to three years of on-the-job training in a hospital or other treatment facility. During that period they work alongside licensed professionals. Residency is a grueling process that gives medical school graduates real-life experience and prepares them to treat patients competently on their own once they are finally handed a license to practice.
El-Sayed is trying to claim the benefit of that rigorous preparation without putting in the sweat and sacrifice. It is akin to the stolen valor charges leveled against those who inflate their military service record to claim battlefield honors they didn't earn. It should insult anyone who has put in the long hours and endured intense pressure to be able to honestly present themselves as a practicing physician.
El-Sayed hasn't done that. While he did run the health departments for Detroit and Wayne County, claiming that bureaucratic experience gives him the perspective of a working doctor when it comes to policymaking in the Senate is a stretch.
Michigan's public health code prohibits "any individual who is not licensed or registered in a specific health profession from using titles, letters or words designed to induce the belief that they are licensed in that profession."
The aim is to protect patients from fraudsters. Voters deserve that same protection.
Tags
Who is online
97 visitors
I'll bet the people so invested in whether a talking head is an actual lawyer, will of course be perfectly fine with this liar serving in the Senate.
Much like the people who claim to hate Nazis were perfectly happy supporting a guy who branded himself with vile Nazi iconography. The only thing that matters is the D or R after the name to those sorts. That's the only "principle" that ever matters.
.
I get your point , and I sort of agree with you. Zacharia was a joke, but, in my opinion, not because she called herself a lawyer.
I have no reason to argue that. But so much of the criticism has been about her calling herself a lawyer.
This is what is meant by being partisan. This is an almost meaningless technicality (and it is not even a lie) yet you are all over this guy because he is a D. But so much worse is to do this against the backdrop of the most prolific, outrageous liar in modern times occupying the office of PotUS.
If you care so much about Al Sayed not being specific on this technicality, then why are you not outraged by the truly damaging lies and decisions of Trump?
Just sickening to see this crap.
As for Zacharia, my comment is that I expected Trump to pick a liar. I would be surprised if he did not do so since the job with Trump as PotUS requires the Press Secretary to blatantly (and outrageously) lie to the press corp (and thus the general public) on a daily basis. Her not passing the bar is irrelevant; the job does not require one to be an attorney. My criticism was and is that Trump picks people based on loyalty to him rather than who would do the best job for the people.
Lol. So predictable. He can't treat people. He doesn't have a medical license, and never has. Yet he call himself a physician which is defined by google AI, citing Merriam's, a "a licensed health care professional who has earned a medical degree and is trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent human illnesses and injuries.
It's unbelievable how predictable the progressive response is.
then why are you not outraged
Let's see progressives get half as outraged over this as they are over a friggin talking head doing the exact same thing.
for Zacharia, my comment is that I expected Trump to pick a liar.
Well, yeah. that goes with a job. Don't tell me you don't think Jen Psaki or KJP aren't liars???
Her not passing the bar is irrelevant;
It's not, yet it's been a massive talking point for some reason. Sayad never got licensed either. They should be treated the same.
Of course, you offer your typical "lol".
If you are so upset by him using the term "physician" (the term "doctor" however, is accurate), why are you not outraged daily by Trump?
If you care so much about Al Sayed not being specific on this technicality, then why are you not outraged by the truly damaging lies and decisions of Trump?
Pathetic.
Trump is the beneficiary of bottom of the barrel expectations.
I guess Zacharia should have called herself a doctor, . She’s as entitled to the title as sayed is.
Physicians
Definition of a Physician H-405.969
Topic: Physicians Policy Subtopic: NA
Meeting Type: Annual Year Last Modified: 2024
Action: Reaffirmation Type: Health Policies
Council & Committees: NA
Our American Medical Association affirms that a physician is an individual who has received a " Doctor of Medicine " or a "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine" degree or an equivalent degree following successful completion of a prescribed course of study from a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine.
Our AMA policy requires anyone in a hospital environment who has direct contact with a patient who presents himself or herself to the patient as a "doctor," and who is not a "physician " according to the AMA definition above, must specifically and simultaneously declare themselves a "non-physician" and define the nature of their doctorate degree. [Emphasis CB.]
Sean, show us where Physician El Sayed 'presented' himself to patients as a physician such that he is in 'violation' of his professional ethics!
Physician El Sayed
I do enjoy when the answers are exactly what I expect.
Oh, I have more. . . and snark lacks anything substantial. BTW, that is what I expected (a lack thereof). People should do their best at research. Just sayin'!
Arguably, it is correct what Michigan requirements state (as listed above). . .however, Doctor Sayed is using the AMA version to claim the academic title as provided him. Questions? Take it up with the AMA!
I can't wait for your 'return': So let's get started!
Sean, are you aware that not all physician work is clinical?
Do show us where Dr. El Sayed states he is a practicing physician, please.
El-Sayed touts his doctor credentials — but he never practiced medicine
Abdul El-Sayed: Campaigning for governor. (Jacob Lewkow)
By
Chad Livengood
June 10, 2018 12:19 AM EDT
Note the date above, readers!
This is not a new issue. It has come up before and, as such, only a fool would continue to try to fraud the public about the issue-if it was wholly false.
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (no friend of mine) is being given the "oppo" treatment. "Old" material is being put in "new material" packaging and foisted onto the public . Do not believe 'the hype' coming from conservatives.
One should ask why many bother to believe some conservatives crap that 'flushes' off their keyboards! It's really low that we can not believe or trust some conservatives to commit to sharing truth here. . . which is what we on NT (and voters in the real world) deserve!
Note: Dr. El-Sayed to my knowledge has not claimed to be a practicing physician.
Nonclinical jobs for physicians
By Megan Trippi April 9, 2026
Why Doctors Decide to Pursue Non Clinical Physician Jobs
Despite popular belief, not everyone who completes medical school or even an accredited residency program goes on to pursue a clinical career.
There are various reasons why a doctor may seek non clinical physician jobs.
For some ambitious individuals, an MD or a DO combined with another degree (such as a JD, MPH, or a Ph.D.) is a stepping stone toward a career in clinical research or medical law. Other individuals may opt to leave the field of healthcare altogether after finding an unexpected and unrelated calling. Then there are those who continue to have an interest in medicine and healthcare but are perhaps experiencing burnout in clinical work after years of practicing medicine.
Oftentimes, physicians may be at a stage in life where the high demands of their clinical jobs push them to positions with more autonomy and fewer time constraints. Even early-career doctors may look for ways out of clinical work after realizing that interfacing with patients on a daily basis is not bringing the kind of fulfillment that they expected.
Whatever the reason, there is often a combination of professional and personal aspects that influence the decision to consider non clinical physician jobs. There are even some who are perfectly content in their clinical work, but due to exposure to a great non clinical opportunity from a colleague or a mentor, choose to pivot.
Live: Abdul El-Sayed press conference after defeating Haley Stevens in Michigan Senate primary
@15:27-30 Dr. El-Sayed explains that he does not PRACTICE medicine, and its "documented' by the media assembled. August 2026. (Note: As mentioned above, this point has been documented since, at least, 2018.)
Again it appears El Sayed's political opposition is making assumptions about what El Sayed is in a desperate attempt to discredit him. Even though the truth is obvious and known to them through their own 'oppo' research. Of course, as an (MD/Physician) administrator the perspective of practicing physicians is 'immersive.'
That said, El Sayed (to my knowledge) has not claimed to be a practicing physician. It appears to be a SUPPOSED SUPPOSITION the GOP is (desperate) to use to make their LIE go viral!
Yes, El Sayed is a Medical Doctor and Physician.
NOTE: And I can write this through research and from the 'other' coast not ever having met this doctor/physician.
Are you sure, that is voters' understanding of the use of "doctor" and "physician— Only ?!
Take a look:
Dr. Francis Collins:
Francis Sellers Collins ForMemRS (born April 14, 1950) is an American physician-scientist who discovered the genes associated with a number of diseases and led the Human Genome Project . He served as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland , from 17 August 2009 to 19 December 2021, serving under three presidents. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Collins announced his retirement publicly from the NIH on March 1, 2025, after 32 years of service. [ 3 ]
Before being appointed director of the NIH, Collins led the Human Genome Project and other genomics research initiatives as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the 27 institutes and centers at NIH. Before joining NHGRI, he earned a reputation as a gene hunter at the University of Michigan . [ 4 ] He has been elected to the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences , and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science .
Collins has written books on science, medicine, and religion, including the New York Times bestseller The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief . After leaving the directorship of NHGRI and before becoming director of the NIH, he founded and served as president of The BioLogos Foundation , which promotes discourse on the relationship between science and religion and advocates the perspective that belief in Christianity can be reconciled with acceptance of evolution and science, especially through the theistic evolution idea that the Creator brought about his plan through the processes of evolution. [ 5 ] In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Collins to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences . [ 6 ]
On October 5, 2021, Collins announced that he would resign as NIH director by the end of the year. [ 7 ] Four months later in February 2022, he joined the Cabinet of Joe Biden as Acting Science Advisor to the President , replacing Eric Lander . [ 8 ] [ 9 ]
Dr. Collins knew early on that he (in his words) never wanted to work with the "messy' field of biology. (See Wikipedia.) Note the "White lab/medical coat the man wears.
BTW, as it turns out doctors traditional work in white garb because it is easy to see what is (gets) ON the material. And even so, depending on circumstance a lab physician may occasionally use a stethoscope