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Abdul El-Sayed

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Abdul El-Sayed
Born
Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed

(1984-10-31) October 31, 1984 (age 40)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BS)
Oriel College, Oxford (MA, DPhil)
Columbia University (MD)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSarah Jukaku
AwardsRhodes Scholarship
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship
Websiteabdulelsayed.com Edit this at Wikidata

Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed[1] (Arabic: عبدالرحمن محمد السيد born October 31, 1984) is an American politician, former public health professor, and civil servant serving as the director of the Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services for Wayne County. He was a candidate in Michigan's 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary election, placing second out of three candidates.[2] In September 2018, he founded Southpaw Michigan,[3] a political action committee, to help elect other progressive candidates in Michigan.

El-Sayed was executive director of the Detroit Health Department and Health Officer for the City of Detroit from 2015 to 2017. In 2017, he resigned as health director to run for governor.[4] He was also formerly an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University.

He is a political contributor at CNN, the author of Healing Politics: A Doctor's Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic[5] and Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide (co-authored with Micah Johnson),[6] and the host of America Dissected with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a podcast about politics and public health produced by Crooked Media.[7] In 2020, he served on the Joe Biden–Bernie Sanders Unity Task Force on health care.

Early life and education

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El-Sayed was born in the metro Detroit area to parents who emigrated to the United States from Egypt.[8]

He grew up in the Detroit area with his father Mohamed El-Sayed and stepmother Jacqueline El-Sayed, a native of Gratiot County, Michigan. Both are engineers. His father grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, and emigrated to the United States to study engineering at Wayne State University.[9] His mother, Fatten Elkomy, is a nurse practitioner in Missouri.

El-Sayed graduated in 2003 from Bloomfield Hills Andover High School,[citation needed] where he was a three-sport athlete—wrestling, football, and lacrosse—and a captain in the latter two.[9] El-Sayed attended the University of Michigan, where he majored in biology and political science, and played on the men's club lacrosse team.[10] He won the William Jennings Bryan Prize for Political Science, graduated with Highest Distinction, and delivered the student commencement speech in front of president Bill Clinton, who delivered the 2007 commencement address.[11]

El-Sayed was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to attend the University of Michigan Medical School, where he completed his first two years of medical school.[12] There he led a student medical mission to Peru and founded a student organization that raised money and coordinated community service for a local free clinic.[13] As a second-year medical student, he declined a Marshall Scholarship and accepted a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oriel College, Oxford,[14] where he completed a DPhil in public health in 2011.[15] While at Oxford, he earned a full blue as captain of Oxford's men's lacrosse team.[16] In 2014, he completed his MD at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and was funded by the Soros Fellowship for New Americans[17] and Medical Scientist Training Program.[18] El-Sayed did not pursue a residency after medical school and is therefore not licensed to practice medicine.[19]

Career in public health

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El-Sayed is the author of over 100 scholarly articles, abstracts, and book chapters on public health policy, social epidemiology, and health disparities.[20] His essays on public health policy have also been published in The New York Times,[21] CNN,[22] The Hill,[23] The Huffington Post,[24] The Detroit News,[25] and the Detroit Free Press.[26]

Public health professor

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In 2014 El-Sayed joined the faculty at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health as assistant professor in the department of epidemiology. He served as director of Columbia's Systems Science Program and Global Research Analytics for Population Health.[26] As a researcher, he has authored over 100 scientific publications, including articles, commentaries, book chapters, and abstracts, about health disparities, birth outcomes, and obesity. His research has been cited over 700 times.[20] He is the recipient of several research awards, including being named one of the Carnegie Council's Policy Innovators.[27] He created and taught the Mailman School's first course on systems science and population health. He co-edited a textbook on the topic with Sandro Galea published in 2017 by Oxford University Press, Systems Science and Population Health.[28]

Health Director of Detroit

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In August 2015, Mayor Mike Duggan appointed El-Sayed Health Officer and Executive Director of the Detroit Health Department, making him, at 30 years old, the youngest health officer in a major US city at the time. In that role, he was charged with rebuilding the Detroit Health Department after government public health activities were provided by a nonprofit before the City of Detroit's municipal bankruptcy in 2012.[26] On his first day on the job El-Sayed arrived at a small office space in the back of Detroit's parking department overseeing five employees.[9] In his first year as director he led efforts to oppose increases in sulfur dioxide emissions by Marathon Petroleum's Southwest Refinery, which resulted in reductions in overall emissions.[25] He also led efforts to test Detroit schools for lead in the wake of Flint's Water crisis,[29] provide free glasses to children in Detroit city schools,[30] and transform the city's troubled Animal Control department.[31][32]

Because of his leadership on lead poisoning reduction, El-Sayed was appointed to the governor's statewide Childhood Lead Elimination Board.[33] He also served on the State of Michigan's Public health Advisory Commission[34] and the Advisory Committee to the US Secretary of Health & Human Services for Healthy People 2030.[35]

In 2016 El-Sayed was named one of Crain's Detroit's "40 under 40",[36] and "Public Official of the Year" by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.[37] In 2017 the University of Michigan awarded him a Bicentennial Alumni Award, awarded to 20 alumni "whose achievements carry on Michigan's traditions of intellectual creativity and academic endeavor, of civic engagement, and of national and international service."[38]

Health Director of Wayne County

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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.[39] He assumed the role in March 2023.[40]

2018 gubernatorial campaign

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Further information: 2018 Michigan gubernatorial election

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.[4] He officially announced his candidacy on February 25, 2017.[9] El-Sayed was inspired to run for governor following the Flint water crisis, saying: "I watched as Governor Snyder and his team of accountants were cutting costs and cutting corners. Their inattention to communities ultimately poisoned thousands of children - and those children were the very ones that I was serving at the helm of the health department. ... And that's something I didn't believe in. I believe in government as something we do in this country for the people and by the people".[30]

El-Sayed pledged not to accept any campaign donations from corporations, and raised over $5 million from individual donations.[41]

El-Sayed was endorsed by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders,[42] Democratic congressional nominee and democratic socialist activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,[43] and 2017 Women's March organizer Linda Sarsour.[44] He was also endorsed by the organization Justice Democrats[45] and The Nation magazine.[46] In the August 7 primary, he received 340,560 votes, or about 30% of the vote, thus losing to Gretchen Whitmer.[47]

In September 2018, El-Sayed launched a political action committee, Southpaw MI PAC, to support liberal down-ballot candidates and take positions on ballot initiatives.[48]

Personal life

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El-Sayed lives in Ann Arbor with his wife, Sarah Jukaku, a psychiatrist.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Read, Bridget (August 1, 2018). "Can Abdul El-Sayed Pull Off the Next Big Progressive Midterm Upset in Michigan?". Vogue. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Detroit health director set to make bid for governor". Detroitnews.com.
  3. ^ "About – Southpaw Michigan — Southpaw Michigan". Southpawmi.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Ferretti, Christine (February 9, 2017). "Detroit health director set to make bid for governor". The Detroit News.
  5. ^ Rahal, Sarah. "El-Sayed canvasses for Sanders, talks state health in new book". Detroit News. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press. 2021. ISBN 978-0-19-005662-9.
  7. ^ White, Peter (September 23, 2019). "'Pod Save America' Producer Crooked Media To Launch Narrative Podcast About Healthcare With Dr. Abdul El-Sayed". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  8. ^ Helms, Matt (November 24, 2015). "Detroit's new public health director aims to innovate". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d Gee, Marcus (May 12, 2017). "Will this man seeking to lead Michigan be America's first Muslim governor?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  10. ^ "U-M dual MD/PhD student named Rhodes Scholar". University of Michigan News. November 26, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  11. ^ "Abdulrahman El-Sayed Commencement Speech". July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "First 'U' student since 2004 wins Rhodes Scholarship". michigandaily.com. November 23, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "U-M dual MD/PhD student named Rhodes Scholar - University of Michigan News". umich.edu. November 26, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  14. ^ "Abdul El-Sayed". rhodesscholarshiptrust.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  15. ^ M., El-Sayed, Abdulrahman (January 1, 2011). "Inequalities in obesity in England : an agent-based systems approach". Bl.uk. Retrieved July 7, 2016.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "LACROSSE - Varsity Match 2011 - Cambridge University Sports Department". cam.ac.uk. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  17. ^ "Meet the Fellows". pdsoros.org. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  18. ^ "Alumni Directory". columbia.edu. April 13, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  19. ^ "El-Sayed touts his doctor credentials — but he never practiced medicine". Crain's Detroit Business. June 10, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Abdul El-Sayed - Google Scholar Citations". google.com. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  21. ^ "The Link Between Weight and Health". The New York Times. January 5, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  22. ^ "Health of Muslims, Arab Americans another victim of 9/11". cnn.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  23. ^ Picard, Joe (March 11, 2015). "Invest in American science". thehill.com. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  24. ^ "Abdulrahman El-Sayed". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Detroit health chief: Don't let Marathon up pollutants". freep.com. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  26. ^ a b c "A native son brings Detroit's health department back to life". statnews.com. May 3, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  27. ^ "Abdulrahman M. El Sayed". policyinnovations.org. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  28. ^ "Systems Science and Population Health". Oxford University Press. March 1, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  29. ^ Williams, Candice (April 5, 2016). "DPS testing for lead, copper in drinking water". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  30. ^ a b Rifai, Ryan (March 27, 2017). "Q&A: The man running to be US' first Muslim governor". Al Jazeera. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  31. ^ Ferretti, Christine (February 15, 2016). "Detroit official goes to bat for public health". The Detroit News. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  32. ^ Hansen, Logan T. (December 7, 2016). "Detroit animal control gets new digs with doubled budget after years of poor conditions". MLive.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  33. ^ "Snyder - Gov. Rick Snyder appoints members to new Child Lead Poisoning Elimination Board". michigan.gov. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  34. ^ "Snyder - Gov. Rick Snyder makes appointments to the Public Health Advisory Commission". Michigan.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  35. ^ "Committee Members | Healthy People 2020". Healthypeople.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  36. ^ "Abdul El-Sayed, 31". Crainsdetroit.com. October 7, 2016.
  37. ^ "Fourth Annual Innovation in Conservation Gala - Michigan League of Conservation Voters". Michiganlcv.org. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  38. ^ "Spring Commencement will include unique bicentennial elements". Record.unmich.edu.
  39. ^ "A note from Abdul El-Sayed: I'm going back to public service".
  40. ^ https://www.news.com.au/world/oneonone-with-wayne-countys-new-health-director/video/3f20c29b0827aabf5b9acefdd5451219 [bare URL]
  41. ^ "Spending in Michigan's gubernatorial primary is at a record pace". Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  42. ^ "Bernie Sanders Endorses Democrat Abdul El-Sayed In Michigan Governor's Race". Huff Post. July 25, 2018.
  43. ^ Ikonomova, Violet (July 5, 2018). "Socialist hero Ocasio-Cortez endorses El-Sayed for Michigan governor". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  44. ^ "Abdul El-Sayed hosts townhall with Women's March founder". Michigandaily.com. December 17, 2017.
  45. ^ Krieg, Gregory (June 28, 2018). "Who's next? Progressive primary insurgents to watch". Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  46. ^ "Abdul El-Sayed for Governor of Michigan". The Nation. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  47. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (August 7, 2018). "Michigan Primary Election Results". The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  48. ^ Strauss, Daniel (September 24, 2018). "Michigan progressive El-Sayed launches PAC after governor run". Politico. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
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