Andhra-Origin Doctor Elected As Head of American Medical Association

Indian-origin people are making waves in the US. They are getting elected as people’s representatives, heading tech firms, and holding prominent positions in various organisations.

In yet one such case, Bobby Mukkamala, belonging to Andhra Pradesh, has been sworn in as the president of the American Medical Association. He is the first Indian doctor to head Amercia’s largest and most influential physician organization. Mukkamala, 53. is also the first AMA president of South Asian descent.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion of assuming charge, he reflected on his journey, he said that he never dreamt he would be having an opportunity to improve the healthcare in the country.

“At one instance, I was laying in the Mayo Clinic with tubes and wires monitoring my movement after a brain surgery.” He underwent a surgery for removal of an 8-cm temporal lobe tumour in November last year.

Bobby vowed to improve the 178-year-old organization. He said that there were many gaps in the healthcare system that need to be addressed. Recalling the days when he underwent the surgery, he said that undoubtedly he received the top quality of care.

Bobby Mukkamala’s father is a radiologist and his mother a paediatrician. He earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.

His wife Nita Kulkarni is an obstetrician-gynaecologist. Together, they established the Endowed Health Professions Scholarships at the University of Michigan, Flint, in 2012. Mukkamala has been active in the AMA since residency and is chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force.