- Avani Patel, MD, MHA
- Candidate for AMA Board of Trustees, Young Physician
- Term
- A physician leader bridging practice, policy, patients
- Family, mentorship and the future of medicine
- Service, action and a voice for physicians
- Bringing the physician voice to the Capitol
- A personal commitment to the profession
- Advancing physician leadership together
- Additional resources
Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates on June 9, 2026.
Officers and five councils are elected by the American Medical Association House of Delegates (HOD) at the Annual Meeting. Elections for contested contests are held during a special election session under the supervision of the Committee on Rules and Credentials and the chief teller, who are appointed by the speakers. Voting is conducted by secret ballot.
Avani Patel, MD, MHA
Candidate for AMA Board of Trustees, Young Physician
Term: 2026-2030
A physician leader bridging practice, policy, patients
Dr. Avani Patel is a board-certified psychiatrist, educator and physician leader whose career reflects the full spectrum of modern medicine—from clinical care to governance and advocacy.
She founded Mississippi Psychiatry & Wellness, a practice serving physicians and other high-performing professionals seeking comprehensive mental health care. At the same time, her work extends to some of the most vulnerable populations through a grant-funded rehabilitation program serving individuals experiencing homelessness and post-incarceration. Beyond clinical care, Dr. Patel serves as a Behavioral Health Medical Director overseeing a Medicaid managed care contract and works with state leaders to address complex dual-diagnosis psychiatric care. She is also an affiliate professor with the University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, where she teaches and mentors residents.
Her governance experience spans more than a decade in organized medicine. She has served on the Mississippi State Medical Association Board of Trustees for six years, on the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Board of Trustees, and for two terms on the AMA Foundation Board of Directors. She currently serves as the Young Physician Representative on the AMA Women Physicians Section Governing Council and as a delegate representing Mississippi to the AMA House of Delegates, where she has been active for more than ten years.
Throughout her career in organized medicine, Dr. Patel has focused on actionable leadership that supports physicians, strengthens institutions and advances patient care. She regularly teaches residents and physicians across the country, delivering grand rounds and national presentations on physician leadership, professional sustainability and innovative care models.
In her state, she serves annually as “Doctor of the Day” at the legislature, providing clinical care to lawmakers and staff while advocating for physician-led policy solutions. Nationally, she has mentored emerging physician leaders through programs such as the AMA Foundation Leadership Development Institute and has participated in leadership selection efforts aimed at developing the next generation of organized medicine leaders. Her work with the APA has focused on public affairs and advocacy, advising strategies to improve public understanding of mental illness, strengthen the public image of psychiatry, and support coordinated responses to public health and policy challenges.
Across all of her roles, she has prioritized coalition building, strategic communication, and ensuring that physician voices remain central in shaping health care policy and public dialogue.
Family, mentorship and the future of medicine
Service, action and a voice for physicians
Bringing the physician voice to the Capitol
A personal commitment to the profession
“I entered organized medicine early in my career because I believed physicians should help shape the systems in which we practice.
Over the years, I have cared for high-performing professionals, patients experiencing homelessness, and individuals navigating complex psychiatric illness. Each experience has reinforced the same truth: policy decisions matter deeply to the lives of physicians and patients alike.
My work in organized medicine has allowed me to bring those real-world perspectives into leadership and governance. It has also given me the opportunity to mentor residents and young physicians who will guide the future of our profession.
If elected to the AMA Board of Trustees as the Young Physician Trustee, I will work to ensure that the perspectives of early-career physicians are represented while serving the entire House of Delegates during a pivotal moment in medicine. I believe the strength of organized medicine lies in listening carefully to physicians and translating their concerns into meaningful governance and advocacy.
My leadership philosophy is simple: listen carefully, act thoughtfully and build durable solutions that support both physicians and patients.
I am committed to thoughtful leadership, respectful dialogue and building the consensus necessary to move our profession forward.”
Advancing physician leadership together
Additional resources
- Visit the AMA elections page for information on other candidates running for office.
- Find up to date information for the June Annual Meeting of the HOD.
