President of the American Medical Association (AMA), Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, delivered a powerful and introspective keynote address at the 43rd Annual Convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) on July 26, 2025. 

Speaking at the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter and Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Mukkamala called for greater unity, systemic reform, and health equity across the U.S. healthcare landscape.

Drawing from his personal journey, as both a practicing physician and a patient, Dr. Mukkamala’s remarks resonated deeply with attendees. According to an official statement from AAPI, the AMA President wove together stories of family, professional service, and the harsh realities of American healthcare to energize his colleagues and appeal to policymakers with sincerity and vision.

One of the highlights of his address was the recognition of telehealth’s rapid adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic. “That was an amazing silver lining during COVID, that we were able to take care of our patients via telemedicine, and that’s something that we want to continue to have that be an option there,” he said, underscoring the need to maintain digital health access as part of the standard care model.

Dr. Mukkamala also made history as the first physician of Indian origin elected to lead the AMA in its 178-year existence. His appointment followed a deeply personal challenge: undergoing surgery to remove an 8-cm brain tumor.

Reflecting on his historic role, Dr. Mukkamala said, “There’s never been an Indian president of the American Medical Association… 10 per cent of the doctors in this country are like you and me. We have an enormous ability, an enormous responsibility, to improve the healthcare of this country.”

He also voiced concern about the lack of representation of Indian American physicians within the AMA. “The AMA represents all physicians in this country. Around 20 per cent of those physicians are members of the AMA… 2 per cent of the Indian physicians in this country are members of the AMA. That is a problem, and so I think we can do better to be unified, to be the left hand and the right hand of healthcare in this country.”

Championing the Role of International Medical Graduates

A significant portion of Dr. Mukkamala’s remarks centered on the vital role played by international medical graduates (IMGs), particularly in underserved areas. Sharing the example of his hometown, he stated, “Were it not for IMGs, we would lose 75 per cent of the doctors in Flint, Michigan. And what is the consequence of that, the people will get sick when that illness could have been prevented. People will die when that death could have been prevented, and that’s because of IMGs.”

Emphasizing the AMA’s commitment to protecting IMG pathways, particularly those navigating the J-1 visa system, he noted, “This is exactly when the AMA sent a note to Washington, DC, to this administration, saying You cannot do this to J-1 visa holders who are starting a design. This is exactly what the AMA does. And we do this every day, right?”

Dr. Mukkamala underscored the importance of preserving a welcoming immigration policy for international medical professionals, stating, “The AMA’s work is to preserve the ability of international medical graduates to come to this country with an open door like my parents came in 1970 when we needed them badly.”

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