NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Flint, MI, June 13, 2025: Dr. Srinivas “Bobby” Mukkamala, a Flint, Michigan-based otolaryngologist who underwent major brain surgery last year, has been sworn in as the 180th president of the American Medical Association (AMA). His appointment marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first physician of Indian heritage to lead the nation’s largest physician organization in its 178-year history.
Dr. Mukkamala’s presidency was formalized during the AMA’s annual meeting held in Chicago, where he succeeded outgoing president Dr. Bruce A. Scott. In his inaugural remarks, he reflected on the personal journey that brought him to this moment, including a life-threatening health challenge in late 2024.
“As I lay in recovery from brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic… this night—night-this honor-this—this opportunity to improve health care seemed a very distant dream,” he said. The surgery was performed to remove an 8-centimeter brain tumor. His experience as a patient, he said, deepened his perspective on the human side of medicine.
A University of Michigan Medical School graduate, Dr. Mukkamala completed his residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. He has been an active member of the AMA for over two decades, serving on its Board of Trustees since 2017 and currently chairing the AMA’s Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force.
Known for his commitment to public service, Dr. Mukkamala played a leading role in responding to the Flint water crisis as chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. He also held leadership roles in the Genesee County Medical Society and the Michigan State Medical Society.
As president, Dr. Mukkamala’s priorities include Medicare physician payment reform, addressing physician burnout, improving insurance pre-authorization processes, and advancing nutrition education and policies to combat the health risks of ultraprocessed foods.
Born in Pittsburgh in 1971 to immigrant physician parents from Andhra Pradesh, India, Dr. Mukkamala was raised in Flint and returned after training to serve his community. He and his wife, OB-GYN Dr. Nita Kulkarni, have supported medical education through endowed scholarships at the University of Michigan–Flint. They have two adult children.
Dr. Mukkamala’s tenure as AMA president runs through June 2026. His election represents both a personal triumph and a significant step forward for diversity in medical leadership.
