More than 400 Indian American physicians and their families and supporters attended the 29th Annual Convention of AAPI-QLI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Queens & Long Island Chapter) December 6, 2025, at the Huntington Hilton, in Melville, Long Island, New York.
The highlight of the Convention was Keynote speaker Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association, the most prestigious body of medical professional in the nation. Dr. Mukkamala is the first Indian American to head AMA.
In his speech, Dr. Mukkamala spoke of his own journey to becoming a physician and the role his parents played in his formative years. He also spoke of his experiences in procuring health care when diagnosed with a brain tumor and noted how the ordinary American may be facing far more obstacles to getting the healthcare he received.
“Somebody that’s about to become the president of the American Medical Association’s voice for improving health care from the physician’s perspective in this country, despite in addition to being a doctor on death’s door,” inspires him daily, he said in his moving speech. Dr. Mukkamala takes a pill every morning that could stop the growth of his residual tumor – a new medication derived after decades of research – a pill that costs $900 for one day! Or more than $200,000 a year. “I have access…” but that may not be the story of most people. He also spoke of being a vegan, and being brought up in the Hindu tradition by his parents but attending Catholic school. When they cried upon hearing his diagnosis, Dr. Mukkamala told them, “If you taught me to believe in reincarnation – if I’m going to be back in some form, I’ll be the deer in our backyard. You won’t know it, but that could be me. Why are you crying?”
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Last year, Dr. Mukkamala took the trustees of AMA to India and will be doing it again, he said, adding he wanted to see the two communities intersect even more; to show them what India was like and what a beautiful country it was; its healthcare – from the villages to the cities.
In a speech peppered with humor, Dr. Mukkamala spoke of his venture into film in India, as a side-roll, evoking much laughter from the audience. He said he was optimistic about the future and of the relationship with AAPI. Thirty percent of physicians in the US are of international descent, the majority of whom are Indians, he noted. “It is an honor to be with you today, looking very much forward to working together to improve health care in this country and use our legacy, our culture, to improve the health care of this country,” he concluded.
“It was a very humbling moment to be standing next to such a man (Mukkamala),” Dr. Krishan Kumar, vice president of the National AAPI organization, told Desi Talk.
Several physicians were honored at the event including Dr. Jerry Balentine, Dr. T.K.S. Rao, and Dr. Tarun Wasil. Other high profile AAPI attendees included Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media/ITV Gold, who is also the incoming President of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), starting February 2026.
Other leaders of AAPI-QLI and the national AAPI also spoke at the event. They included Dr. Krishan Kumar from the national AAPI; President of AAPI QLI Dr. Devendra Shrivastava; Convention Chairman Dr. Prabhu Mehta; Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Abhay Malhotra; and Chairman of the Advisory Council Dr. Rakesh Dua.
The main entertainer at the gala was singer/musician Bishakh Jyoti, national award winner, Bollywood music director and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa champion. Attendees enjoyed the music which brought them all to the dance floor, moving to the beats.
About AAPI-QLI
One of the major aims of the Convention was to raise funds for charitable causes.
AAPI-QLI represents the nearly 1,000 physicians of Indian origin who live and work in Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island, making it the largest chapter of the national organization AAPI (Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), headquartered in Chicago, IL.
Many AAPI-QLI members hold leadership positions as department chairs and directors across major hospitals and medical groups throughout the Greater New York area, notes the organization.
This year marks our 29th Annual Convention featured the gala as well as a comprehensive Continuing Medical Education (CME) program, and a Research Competition.