Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, AMA President, Appeals For Health Care Reform, Equity

India-West Staff Reporter

CINCINNATI, OH – In a stirring and wide-ranging keynote address at a national healthcare advocacy conference, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, President of the American Medical Association (AMA), delivered a powerful call for reform, equity, and unity within the U.S. healthcare system. Speaking from personal experience as both a physician and a patient, Mukkamala underscored the urgency of change—blending stories of family, community, and professional perseverance with a vision for a more inclusive and supportive medical landscape.

Addressing attendees at the 43rd annual convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) on July 26 at the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter and Northern Kentucky Convention Center here, Mukkamala celebrated the evolution of digital health. “Telemedicine was an amazing silver lining during COVID,” he said. “We were able to care for our patients virtually—and we must continue to keep that as an option.”

During the event’s closing gala, Dr. Satheesh Kathula passed the gavel to Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, marking a symbolic transition in leadership and a renewed commitment to AAPI’s mission. Hundreds of members, including past and incoming officers, gathered in a show of solidarity for the growing influence of Indian-origin physicians in American healthcare.

Mukkamala made history as the first Indian American to be elected President of the AMA in its 178-year existence. He assumed the role just months after undergoing surgery to remove an 8-cm brain tumor. Reflecting on this milestone, he acknowledged both the weight and the opportunity of his position: “There’s never been an Indian president of the AMA. Ten percent of the doctors in this country are like you and me. We have an enormous ability—and an enormous responsibility—to improve the healthcare of this country.”

He also urged greater engagement within the AMA itself. “The AMA represents all physicians in this country. Twenty percent of physicians are AMA members. But only 2% of Indian American physicians are members. That’s a problem. We can do better—united, we can be both the left and right hand of healthcare in this country.”

He also turned his attention to recognizing the critical role of international medical graduates (IMGs). In his hometown of Flint, Michigan, Mukkamala said, IMGs make up 75% of the physician workforce. “Without them, illnesses go untreated and lives are lost. That’s the real consequence.”

He praised the AMA’s advocacy to protect J-1 visa holders, many of whom are foreign-trained physicians, stating: “This is exactly when the AMA steps in—sending a note to Washington, saying you cannot do this to J-1 visa holders. This is what we do, every day.”

Mukkamala emphasized the importance of keeping America’s doors open to medical professionals from abroad, as they were when his parents immigrated in 1970. “That openness helped build this nation’s medical strength,” he said.

Addressing issues of race and belonging, Mukkamala shared personal stories of growing up as an immigrant in the U.S. “My nickname was ‘brownie,’ and at the time, I didn’t understand it was a little racist—I thought maybe it meant I was sweet,” he said, adding that his family even faced threats when trying to buy a home. “We had to call the FBI in 1987 because of death threats… That was the nature of the city and the country then.”

He also touched on the AMA’s broader commitment to social justice, referencing its response to the murder of George Floyd. “There’s a risk to being a leader—especially when championing diversity and equity,” he said. “If your passion is opening this country to international medical graduates—particularly from India—then the AMA is the organization to work with.”

Closing his address with a heartfelt appeal, Mukkamala said, “Don’t join the AMA because of me—join because of what it means for the future of healthcare in this country. With our perspective and our roots in India, our voices matter. The AMA recognizes that. But we need to show up. Only 2% of Indian physicians in the U.S. are members. We must do better. We must stand together.”