Abdul El-Sayed, MD, DPhil

Health Official | Physician & Epidemiologist | Educator | Author | Podcast Host

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is a prominent physician, epidemiologist, public health expert, and political figure. Here are some key details about his background and career:

Professional Roles

Physician and epidemiologist
Host of the podcast "America Dissected" by Crooked Media5
Contributing Editor at The New Republic and commentator at CNN2
Founder of the newsletter "The Incision"1 2
Former Health Director for the city of Detroit2 4
Former candidate for governor of Michigan in 20184 6

Academic and Research Positions

Senior Fellow at the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health2 6
Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy2
Scholar in Residence at Wayne State University and American University2 6
Former professor at Columbia University's Department of Epidemiology3

Education

MD from Columbia University
DPhil (doctorate) in Public Health from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar
Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Political Science from the University of Michigan4

Publications and Media

Author of multiple books, including "Healing Politics" and "Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide"2 4
Host of the podcast "America Dissected"5
Writes the newsletter "The Incision"1 2

Political Involvement

Ran for governor of Michigan in 2018 on a progressive platform6
Served as a national surrogate for Bernie Sanders and later for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 20206
Appointed to Joe Biden's 2020 Unity Task Force for Healthcare6

Dr. El-Sayed's work focuses on health equity, resiliency, and environmental justice.3 He is known for his expertise in public health policy and his ability to communicate complex health issues to the public.2 5