In a milestone moment in history, Indian-origin doctor Dr. Bobby Mukkamala has formally taken up office as the 180th president of the American Medical Association (AMA) and is the first doctor of Indian descent to head the elite body.
The appointment is a testament to a personal and professional high point for Mukkamala, who just months ago went through surgery to have an 8-cm brain tumor removed. At his swearing-in ceremony, he reflected on the emotional ride: “As I spent my night recovering from brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic, with tubes and wires tracking every move I made, this night — this honour — this chance to enhance health care seemed a very distant dream.”
Healthcare Reform and Equity Champion
In speaking to AMA members and visitors, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala emphasized the imperative of healthcare reform in America. “There are huge gaps in our health care system that need our attention,” he declared. “That’s why it’s so vital to keep working toward sufficient health coverage for our patients, and toward a sustainable, fair health care model.”
Dr. Mukkamala has also been a dedicated champion within the AMA, having served as former chair of the Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force. He has been at the forefront of advocating for evidence-based policies to stem the overdose crisis. His commitment to public service was also in full display when he served as the chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint throughout the Flint water crisis, directing efforts on initiatives to mitigate the effects of lead exposure among children.
Life Grounded in Service and Legacy
Born to Indian immigrant doctors, Dr. Mukkamala attributed his values and vision to his parents, Apparao and Sumathi. “I stand here tonight on the shoulders I quite literally stood on as a kid,” he said. “Those of my parents, two immigrants from India who settled in this country believing it offered them — and their future children — opportunities that simply were not possible at home.”
He graduated from the University of Michigan with a medical degree and completed a residency at Loyola University in Chicago. Mukkamala then returned to Flint, Michigan, where he now practices medicine with his wife, Dr. Nita Kulkarni, an obstetrician-gynaecologist. The couple has two children, Nikhil, a biomedical engineer, and Deven, a PhD candidate in political science.
Attention to Underserved Communities and Physician Support
Dr. Mukkamala took the opportunity of his first AMA presidential address to point out the health inequities confronting vulnerable communities like Flint. “Life expectancy in Flint is roughly 12 years lower than its suburbs,” he emphasized, pointing out that he and his wife have seen these issues firsthand.
He also cautioned of an increasing doctor shortage and the financial incentives pushing physicians out of private practice. “Where are our patients supposed to go?” he rhetorically asked, citing an example of a patient who waited six weeks for his return instead of going elsewhere.