AMA president Bobby Mukkamala speaks at the STAT Summit in Boston, MA. October 16th, 2025
Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, speaks with STAT’s Chelsea Cirruzzo.Jeff Pinette for STAT

Theresa Gaffney is the lead Morning Rounds writer and reports on health care, new research, and public policy, with a particular interest in mental health, gender-affirming care, and LGBTQ+ patient communities. You can reach Theresa on Signal at theresagaff.97.

BOSTON  — American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala defended the restrained advocacy strategy that the country’s largest professional medical organization has taken with the Trump administration, while playing up the alignment between federal health officials and the AMA on issues like prior authorization, as part of a Thursday conversation at the STAT Summit.   

Mukkamala acknowledged that certain decisions made by the Trump administration — including alterations to the childhood vaccine schedule and the potential overhaul of a key federal advisory panel on preventive services — could be dangerous for patients. But he also emphasized the importance of trying to maintain a working relationship with the administration.

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“This is a critical role of the AMA, to let people that have the authority to help us, to help our patients — to make it easier for them,” he said. “We’re excited about the administration’s interest in things that burn the heck out of me.” 

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