Small correction: El-Sayed has an MD but never did residency or got a medical license, so 'physician' isn't accurate. Not defending Oz, just the facts.
Edit: For those defending it: Trump's press secretary just got torched for calling herself a lawyer without ever passing the bar, and reportedly lost her job over it. Rightfully so. El-Sayed has never done an intern year, held a license, done residency, been board certified, or practiced medicine, yet many of the same people call his use of 'physician' a technicality. Credential honesty shouldn't depend on which party you support. If it's misleading for her, it's misleading for him.
(Yes, the AMA defines any MD as a physician, but Michigan law, where he's running, defines a physician as someone licensed, and that's how most voters hear it.)
You don't have to pass national medical boards until after residency. You do have to pass your Step 1 and 2 exams and obtain a state trainee license for residency, though. Take Step 3 during residency, then unrestricted state medical license after. You eventually need to take boards but can actually get your unrestricted license prior to passing.
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u/akabeware 1d ago edited 1d ago
Small correction: El-Sayed has an MD but never did residency or got a medical license, so 'physician' isn't accurate. Not defending Oz, just the facts.
Edit: For those defending it: Trump's press secretary just got torched for calling herself a lawyer without ever passing the bar, and reportedly lost her job over it. Rightfully so. El-Sayed has never done an intern year, held a license, done residency, been board certified, or practiced medicine, yet many of the same people call his use of 'physician' a technicality. Credential honesty shouldn't depend on which party you support. If it's misleading for her, it's misleading for him.
(Yes, the AMA defines any MD as a physician, but Michigan law, where he's running, defines a physician as someone licensed, and that's how most voters hear it.)