Bobby Mukkamala, AMA president, cherishes ‘bonus years’ after cancer battle

Just months before being sworn in as the president of the American Medical Association, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala received shattering news.

In November 2024, Mukkamala learned that he had an 8 cm tumor, an astrocytoma, on the left side of his brain. A month later, he underwent surgery.

Six months later, in June 2025, Mukkamala was sworn in as the AMA’s president.

Mukkamala has gained new perspectives as a patient, and he also appears to have gained even more determination to make a difference as a physician leader.

In an interview with Chief Healthcare Executive® in September, Mukkamala shared how his cancer journey has changed him.

“It's a wonderful life,” Mukkamala says. “I consider this the bonus years of my life.”

“It's amazing to be in these bonus years of my life with this role as president of an amazing organization to work on improving health care in this country,” he says.

Mukkamala also acknowledges the advantages he had as a physician to get expert advice on treatment, and even being in his hometown of Flint, Michigan, where he could get swift access to an MRI. For those who don’t live close to health systems, they can see much longer waits for the tests they need.

Surgeons removed much of Mukkamala’s brain tumor, but they weren’t able to get it all, he says. Mukkamala says the medicine that’s helping to keep him alive is the result of research funded by the National Institutes of Health.

With his academic and personal knowledge of the merits of medical research, Mukkamala is speaking out in support of preserving NIH funding. President Trump’s administration proposed a 40% cut in funds to the NIH, the largest source of federal funds for health research. Lawmakers in Congress have signaled opposition to steep cuts in NIH funding.

“I don't think that's a coincidence that I, as president of the American Medical Association, personally, am alive because of NIH funding,” he says. “And here it is that's challenged. And so yes, it's been a very difficult year to focus on improving the health of our country when dealing with things like this.”

Mukkamala also is bullish on the importance of prevention. He is certified in lifestyle medicine, and is disappointed to see declines in vaccinations.

“I think it's so critical to work on improving lifestyle to prevent disease, and vaccination is one of those components,” he says.