Three physicians have been appointed to leadership positions within the International Medical Graduates (IMG) Section of the American Medical Association (AMA), a major national organization that brings together hundreds of medical societies and healthcare stakeholders across the United States. These new appointments reflect growing recognition of international physicians, many of whom are Indian American doctors playing a critical role in the U.S. healthcare system.
The elected physicians—Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Dr. Deepu Sudhakaran, and Dr. Vikram B. Patel—will officially begin their roles during the IMG Section’s annual meeting on June 5, 2026. Their leadership comes at a time when international medical graduates make up more than 25% of practicing physicians in the country, collectively supporting a healthcare system valued in the trillions of dollars annually.
Dr. Deepu Sudhakaran, an experienced surgeon and prominent Indian American medical leader associated with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, has been chosen to serve as Chair of the AMA IMG Section. In this position, he will help set strategic priorities and ensure that the voices of international medical graduates are included in national healthcare discussions. Sudhakaran emphasized that IMGs represent over 30% of the U.S. physician workforce and play a vital role in shaping patient care, healthcare access, and system stability.
Dr. Satheesh Kathula, an oncologist with nearly 25 years of clinical experience, also joins the leadership team. A former president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, he currently serves as a clinical professor of medicine at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine in Ohio. Kathula described international medical graduates as the backbone of American healthcare, noting his commitment to expanding opportunities that help them grow professionally, take on leadership roles, and deliver high-quality care.
Dr. Vikram B. Patel, another newly elected leader, currently chairs the IMG Section of the Illinois State Medical Society. He has also held influential positions in several professional organizations focused on pain medicine and interventional therapies. Patel stated that serving in the AMA IMG Section has been a long-standing professional goal, reflecting his dedication to advancing opportunities for international physicians in the United States.
The AMA IMG Section continues to advocate for physicians who completed their medical education outside the United States and Canada. It also provides essential support for residency applicants and addresses key challenges faced by international medical graduates entering the American healthcare system.
