Introduction: The Unlikely Crossover from Medicine to Politics
Why would doctors, often burdened with heavy workloads and responsibilities, choose to run for mayor? What drives them to take on the leadership of their towns? And why might a doctor make an excellent mayor? Medscape interviewed three practitioners who are vying for the position of mayor in the upcoming municipal elections on March 15 and 22. Here are their stories.
Dr. Philippe Héno: A Cardiologist’s Vision for Sanary-sur-Mer
“Many doctors are running in the municipal elections. This is because we are close to the population, we show empathy, and we are often involved in local community life. We understand our patients’ issues, which is very useful for building a program that meets the population’s needs. I was approached about three years ago to participate in local politics. I attended municipal council meetings, and we formed a working group with current opposition municipal councilors. This group asked me if I wanted to lead the list. I officially declared my candidacy in September 2024.
With our list ‘Nous, Sanaryens,’ we have a diverse right-wing label, but we are an apolitical group, not supported or invested by any party.
If elected, I will maintain a part-time practice. I still have a few years of practice before I can retire. However, given the shortage of doctors, I do not want to abandon my patients. I love my job, but I decided to run because I wanted to experience something different. I live in a city where the current municipal team has been in place for 37 years. The city is very pleasant, but several things need to change. Sanary is a city more focused on tourism and cares more about visitors than its daily residents.
If elected, we would like to implement actions in the health sector. We are not in a medical desert, but some doctors in the city center are considering moving to peripheral areas due to high parking costs. Access to the city center is also difficult due to poorly regulated traffic. We want to create temporary spaces for ambulances, home care nurses, doctors, or people with reduced mobility visiting doctors. We also want to develop soft mobility by building a bike path and setting up electric shuttles to allow elderly people to come to the city center.”
Dr. Sophie Choplin: A General Practitioner’s Ambitions for Cholet
In Sanary-sur-Mer, Dr. Philippe Héno’s list came in second with 29.52% of the votes, behind Olivier Magnien’s list (30.69%) and ahead of Gilles Garcia’s list (23.7%).
“I wanted to get involved because I wanted a change in the municipal team. Many inappropriate decisions have been made regarding expenses and equipment, leading to many conflicts. I feel capable of making a difference. We doctors have a great capacity for work, and I feel ready to do both. Doctors can make good mayors because they are dedicated, love helping, and know how to take responsibility. It doesn’t scare us. We also understand the consequences our decisions can have. I want to make things happen; that’s what motivates me. Our list is ‘without a label.’ I recruited people from all walks of life, from all neighborhoods, to form the list ‘Osez l’avenir! Agissons ensemble.’
Being used to one-on-one interactions with my patients, I can talk to everyone, from veterinarians to people who pack snacks in factories.
I have thought about my organization if I were to be elected mayor of Cholet, a city of 54,000 inhabitants. I plan to take a long-term replacement for six months. I would like to practice part-time two or three days a week.
One thing is certain, I cannot close the practice. I am the primary care physician for about 1,850 patients, mostly young people, and I do my on-call duties. I often say that I work three half-days a day.
If elected, I would like to shake things up to recruit interns. The internship is too small compared to the number of interns. It is planned to be rehabilitated. They are not facilitated in finding housing. There is only one shared apartment accessible to three interns. Forty-five have no housing and must fend for themselves. We need intern houses for those who do not want to be in the internship, with services to make their lives easier because an intern starts early in the morning and finishes late at night.”
Dr. Jean-François Lemaître: A Retired Doctor’s Drive for Change in Feignies
In Cholet, Dr. Sophie Choplin received 2.71% of the votes.
“I was a councilor in the opposition, and this year, I got involved in this campaign because I have been retired since January 1. I would not have considered doing it otherwise. I find that there are many common points between the roles of mayor and doctor. Both are professions where you need to communicate, require contact with others, and adapt to different audiences. For both roles, you need to love taking care of others and build an unbreakable bond. You manage a small society as a doctor, and you know how to adapt to hard knocks and bounce back.
Running for mayor is something I have been considering for a long time. I approach the election calmly, even though it’s not easy. There is a power struggle with those in place who want to keep power. I have faced a lot of pressure; I was called the worst doctor on earth, which motivated me even more to run and try to make a difference. We are a team of 29 running mates with a great spirit of solidarity. Many people on this list, which we called ‘Réécrire Feignies ensemble,’ are friends. We are neither right nor left, but we are all driven by the desire to make a difference. I feel a dynamic and a desire for change.”
In Feignies, Dr. Jean-François Lemaître’s list won with 50.77% of the votes.
🔗 **Source:** https://francais.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/municipales-trois-m%C3%A9decins-candidats-confient-pourquoi-2026a10007ll
