Outlook Business Desk
On June 11, Indian-origin physician Dr. Bobby Mukkamala was elected as the 180th President of the American Medical Association, making him the first person of Indian descent to head the organisation in its 178-year history.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, a Flint, Michigan-based ENT specialist and long-time member of the American Medical Association, was officially confirmed as the 180th AMA President during the association’s annual meeting held in Chicago.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan and completed his residency from Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. His wife, Dr. Nita Kulkarni, is also an obstetrician-gynecologist.
Following his election, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala said, “To call this moment humbling doesn't capture it. It's moving. It's awe-inspiring.”
Mukkamala also chairs the AMA’s Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force. He played a key role in the Flint water crisis response, leading efforts to support children affected by lead exposure. As an ENT specialist, he treats patients across all ages and health stages.
Mukkamala was elected to the AMA Council on Science and Public Health in 2009 and later served on the AMA Board of Trustees, winning elections in both 2017 and 2021. He has also been a member of the Michigan State Medical Society Board since 2011, serving as both board chair and president.
Just months before taking over as AMA President, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala underwent a major surgery to remove an 8-cm tumour from his brain. With 90% of the tumour successfully removed, the experience profoundly shaped his perspective and strengthened his resolve to fight for a more equitable US healthcare system.
“As I lay in recovery from brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic, with tubes and wires monitoring my every movement, this night – this honor – this opportunity to improve health care seemed a very distant dream,” said Dr. Mukkamala.