Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Walking Between Worlds, Fighting for Everyone | Sumud Podcast w/ Dr. Ed Hasan

In this episode of the Sumud Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed to explore identity, public service, and political courage in a time of crisis. He reflects on how his upbringing shaped his commitment to equity, healthcare, and human dignity, and unpacks how systemic inequality operates across both the United States and globally. The conversation also turns to Palestine, where he examines the human cost of war, the contradictions in U.S. policy, and the urgency of centering universal human rights. Throughout, he challenges divisive narratives and calls for a politics rooted in shared humanity, empathy, and meaningful change.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is a physician, epidemiologist, author, and public servant currently running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan. Born and raised in Southeast Michigan to an Egyptian immigrant father and an American mother, his life has been shaped by navigating multiple cultures and perspectives. At just 30 years old, Dr. El-Sayed became the youngest health official of a major American city, rebuilding Detroit’s Health Department after its collapse. He later served as Director of Wayne County’s Health, Human & Veterans Services Department, where he oversaw services for 1.8 million residents. His work has focused on expanding healthcare access, removing lead from schools, providing free glasses to children, combating the opioid crisis through Narcan distribution, and canceling hundreds of millions in medical debt. A Rhodes Scholar and graduate of the University of Michigan, he holds both an MD and a PhD in epidemiology. He is also the author of Healing Politics and host of the podcast America Dissected. A union member and advocate for working people, Dr. El-Sayed is running to build a government that prioritizes human dignity, equity, and the needs of everyday Americans over corporate interests

In this conversation, we explore:
- Growing up between cultures and finding identity across worlds
- The influence of family, especially his grandmother, on purpose and leadership
- Why public health and politics are deeply interconnected
- The realities of systemic inequality in the U.S. healthcare system
- U.S. foreign policy and the human cost of war abroad
- Navigating media narratives, misinformation, and public attacks
- Why the issue of Palestine is rooted in universal human rights, not identity
- Political courage and standing firm under pressure and criticism
- The role of empathy, principle, and accountability in leadership @AbdulElSayed

Director: Dr. Ed Hasan | 2026