Chicago: Dr Srinivas "Bobby" Mukkamala has made history as the first person of Indian origin to be elected President of the American Medical Association (AMA), marking a significant milestone in the 178-year history of the influential medical body.

Reflecting on the occasion during his inauguration in Chicago, Dr Mukkamala, an otolaryngologist, described the moment as deeply moving.

“To call this moment humbling doesn’t capture it,” he said. “It’s moving. It’s awe-inspiring.”

His election comes amid a deeply personal health journey. In November last year, an MRI revealed an 8-centimetre tumour in the left temporal lobe of Dr Mukkamala’s brain. Just three weeks after the diagnosis, the 53-year-old underwent surgery. Doctors successfully removed 90 per cent of the tumour--described by the AMA as a best-case outcome.

Known for his decades-long advocacy for patients and commitment to organised medicine, Dr Mukkamala says the experience has only strengthened his resolve to push for a more equitable healthcare system in the United States.

“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.”

He acknowledged that he received the best treatment available, but stressed that for many patients, access to timely and affordable care remains uncertain.

“For many, the process of getting care comes with far more troubling questions than reassuring answers--whether insurance will cover a procedure, how much a medication costs, or how long they will wait to see a specialist for something as serious as a lump in their neck,” he noted.

Dr Mukkamala’s inauguration took place during the AMA’s House of Delegates meeting, which ran from 6 to 11 June.

During the session, the AMA also adopted a new policy aimed at promoting awareness around healthy eating. The initiative focuses on public education about the differences between ultraprocessed and healthful foods and encourages the integration of nutrition education at all levels of medical training. The goal is to better equip physicians to advise patients on reducing the consumption of unhealthful, ultraprocessed foods.