Dr. Srinivas Mukkamala, an otolaryngologist based in Michigan, has become the first person of Indian origin to be elected president of the American Medical Association.
He will serve as the 180th president of the organisation, which is the largest association of doctors and medical students in the United States. His election was announced during the AMA’s annual meeting held in Chicago.
Dr. Mukkamala was diagnosed with a brain tumour in November 2024 after undergoing an MRI scan. He had surgery three weeks later, during which doctors removed 90 percent of the tumour, which was eight centimetres in size and located in the left temporal lobe of his brain.
He said that this personal experience with serious illness has strengthened his commitment to improving healthcare access across the country.
“As I lay in the recovery room 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,” he said.
He spoke about the difference in experiences between patients like himself, who can access high-quality treatment easily, and others who face challenges such as insurance issues, high costs, and long delays.
He emphasised the need for the US healthcare system to include the voices of physicians from all specialisations and regions, and said that the AMA has an important role to play in uniting the medical community.
During the AMA’s meeting, held from June 6 to 11, the association also adopted a new policy to promote education on the health risks of ultraprocessed foods. The policy aims to encourage medical schools to include more nutrition training in their courses so that doctors are better prepared to guide patients in making healthy food choices.
The American Medical Association, founded in 1847, continues to be a major voice in shaping health policies and medical education in the United States.
