Srinivas Mukkamala Becomes First Indian-Origin President of the AMA

Key Highlights

• Dr. Mukkamala sworn in as AMA's 180th president, marking historic first for Indian-origin leadership. 
• Diagnosed with 8 cm brain tumour earlier this year, his election underscores resilience and patient-centric vision. 

Srinivas Mukkamala was elected President of the American Medical Association, becoming the first person of Indian origin to lead the organization in its 178-year history.

"To call this moment humbling doesn't capture it," said Bobby Mukkamala, MD, an otolaryngologist and the American Medical Association's newly elected 180th President. "It is moving. "It's breathtaking," he said.

Many of those in attendance at the AMA presidential inauguration in Chicago were inspired in turn. An 8-cm temporal lobe tumor on Mukkamala's left side of the brain was discovered during an MRI exam in November. The 53-year-old father of two underwent surgery three weeks after the startling discovery, according to an AMA statement.

Mukkamala's best-case scenario involved removing 90% of the tumor. Mukkamala has been a staunch patient advocate throughout his decades in organised medicine. His cancer battle reaffirmed the goal of his position: to use his platform and personal experience to advocate for a better, more equitable healthcare system in the US.

Mukkamala went on to say that he received the best possible treatment. According to the statement, many patients face far more troubling questions than reassuring answers when seeking care, such as whether insurance will cover a procedure, how much a medication costs, or how long they will have to wait to see a specialist for something as serious as a lump in their neck.

"Our health system needs the input of many skilled physicians--physician leaders across every state and specialty--who are working together with incredible purpose and urgency," he said. "It needs the AMA more than ever, with leaders in our profession speaking with one firm and commanding voice."

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The AMA House of Delegates met from June 6 to June 11, according to the statement.

The American Medical Association has implemented a new policy to raise public awareness and education about the differences between unhealthy, ultraprocessed foods and healthy foods, as well as the benefits of minimally processed and unprocessed foods. As part of this effort, the policy promotes the incorporation of nutrition education into all levels of medical education, allowing physicians to best counsel patients on reducing their unhealthy consumption of ultraprocessed foods.