Summary:
Dr Bobby Mukkamala, an otolaryngologist from Flint, Mich., has been sworn in as the 180th president of the American Medical Association, becoming the first physician of Indian heritage to lead the organization.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr Mukkamala brings personal insight into the healthcare system after recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor and emphasized the need for equitable, accessible care.
- A long-time AMA leader and advocate, he has played major roles in addressing the opioid crisis and the Flint water crisis.
- His interest in public service was shaped by his family’s immigrant roots and dedication to community health.
Bobby Mukkamala, MD, an otolaryngologist from Flint, Mich., was sworn in today as the 180th president of the American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest physician organization.
Dr Mukkamala, who was diagnosed with an 8-cm brain tumor last November, spoke about what he learned about being a physician by being a patient, the challenges that face our health system and communities like Flint, and the generations of sacrifice that led him to becoming the first physician of Indian heritage to lead the AMA.
“A few months ago, I didn’t know if this night would even be possible,” Dr Mukkamala said in remarks as prepared for delivery. “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 healthcare seemed a very distant dream.
“I am here tonight because of the brilliance of many skilled physicians, because of the enduring love and patience of my family and friends, and because our healthcare system, for all its flaws—and there are many—is still the best in the world for people like me.
“There are tremendous gaps in our healthcare system that require our attention.
“And it all starts with timely access to care.
“That’s why continuing to fight for adequate health coverage for our patients is so important.
“Why fighting to repair and rebuild our physician workforce is so important.
“Why fighting to spend more money on our patients and less on healthcare bureaucracy is so important.
“Why fighting to remove the barriers to care that impact so many people is so important.
“And why fighting for a sustainable, equitable healthcare model is so important.
“This is the work of the AMA.”
Dr Mukkamala, who has been active in the AMA since residency, is chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force, serving as a strong voice in advocating for evidence-based policies to end the nation’s overdose epidemic. He also played a central role in response to the Flint water crisis, serving as chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint with a focus on funding projects to mitigate the effects of lead in children. As an otolaryngologist, he sees patients at all stages of life and all phases of health—from newborns to senior citizens.
Dr Mukkamala is a past recipient of the AMA Foundation’s “Excellence in Medicine” Leadership Award. He was elected to the AMA Council on Science and Public Health in 2009 and served as its chair from 2016 to 2017, before being elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in 2017 and 2021. He has served as a member of the Michigan State Medical Society Board of Directors since 2011, as board chair for two years, and as its president. He is also a past president of the Genesee County Medical Society (GCMS) and continues to serve on the GCMS Board of Directors.
The son of two immigrant physicians, Dr Mukkamala was inspired to go into medicine and return to his hometown of Flint to serve the community that welcomed his family decades before.
Dr Mukkamala graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. Today, he shares an office with his wife, Nita Kulkarni, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist. Together, they established the Endowed Health Professions Scholarships at the University of Michigan, Flint, in 2012. They have two adult children, Nikhil, a biomedical engineer, and Deven, a PhD candidate in political science.
