The India Medical Mission (“IMM”) launched in 2018 by Joel Madhukar and George Peters.

The backstory of IMM begins in 1983 when Joel was 18 years old in Hyderabad, India. Joel received an opportunity to visit America but needed someone to serve as a recommendation in the visa process. A full-time missionary named Lillian Wallace agreed to write a recommendation and Joel was granted his visa.

Joel immigrated to the US and pursued a career in the medical field. He graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 1998 with a his Bachelors of Science in Physician Associate Studies. He has also earned his Masters in Physician Associate studies from Touro College New York and his Doctorate from in Medical Sciences from Lynchburg University. Joel has spent the majority of his career serving the veterans of the US in the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center for 18 years.

Joel has a passion for mentorship and academia, as well. He is the Director of VA PA Education which coordinates clinical rotations for the second-year physician associate students from local south Florida colleges. for clinical rotation program at the Miami Additionally, he serves as a guest lecturer at Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and an adjunct faculty member at Miami-Dade College PA program

In 2017, Lillian Wallace and Joel reconnected through Facebook, and Lillian encouraged Joel to start a medical mission trip to India.

Joel connected with his long-time friend, the late George Peters, who was also a professor at Broward College. Together, the two gathered students and medical professionals alike and launched the first India Medical Mission trip.