Kunal Kapoor: Saving Lives During COVID-19 with AI, Predictive Analytics, and Automation

Kunal Kapoor is a Senior Product Owner at SoftWriters (part of Roper Technologies, Inc.), who rose as a leading innovator in healthcare technology during the COVID-19 crisis. In 2020, he received the AI Innovation Award from Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Highmark Health for his pandemic work. Kapoor developed AI-driven predictive analytics and implemented multichannel communication tools (integrating voice, video, and SMS) across every step of the patient journey.

He also automated virtual appointment scheduling and overhauled the vaccination process by leveraging thousands of real-time vital-sign data points that improved patient access and outcomes. He often encapsulates this effort with the slogan "Saving Lives During COVID-19 Through AI: Predictive Analytics, Automated Scheduling, and Geo-Mapped Access to Care."

During the height of the pandemic, Kapoor's team deployed intelligent risk-assessment models and decision-support systems to flag patients at high risk of sudden deterioration. His AI tools accelerated COVID-19 diagnoses and prioritized care (for those who needed it most) with the combination of multimodal data, including patient histories and medical imaging (chest X-rays, CT scans).

Another key innovation was continuous real-time patient monitoring: AI algorithms evaluated thousands of vital-sign data points (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, etc.) and alerted clinicians automatically during critical conditions of patients. These alerts were pushed to dashboards and smartphones, which enabled rapid clinical response. Kapoor upholds compliance with HIPAA and encryption standards for all solutions throughout these projects to protect patient privacy and maintain institutional trust.

Kapoor led the automation of appointment scheduling and the development of a map-based scheduling tool, which provided patients with geo-mapped access to care that displayed them real-time locations of nearby vaccination sites. This automated scheduling system reduced the need for call-center assistance and minimized friction in the patient journey. Combined with his predictive analytics and monitoring systems, these innovations dramatically expanded timely access to care and helped save lives.

Kapoor's contributions have earned broad industry recognition. In addition to the AHN/Highmark AI Innovation Award, he was selected as a judge for the prestigious Globee Awards, where he reviewed over 100 international submissions in technology and business achievement. He was a guest evaluator at Florida International University's digital health hackathon, where he mentored PhD and master's students on real-world healthcare projects, which recognized his AI and digital health expertise.

Kapoor's passion for healthcare technology was born from personal experience. As a young engineering student in India, he witnessed a parent's cancer diagnosis without timely data-driven care, which drove him to explore how computing could improve patient outcomes. In his final college semester, he interned at India's Institute of Integrated Medicine with a blend of computer science and biology on government research projects. That eye-opening experience convinced him that technology could make a real difference in people's lives.

Kapoor, born and raised in a small town in northern India by a single mother, excelled academically. After earning his bachelor's in Computer Science and Engineering from Chandigarh University, he joined HCL Technologies to work on a Merck Pharmaceuticals project. In 2013, his strong performance earned him a transfer to the United States, where he supported an Allscripts healthcare system in North Carolina. He later earned an MBA from Fitchburg State University. Over more than 15 years in healthcare and life sciences, Kapoor has combined deep technical expertise with global experience. He credits this unique combination of skills and passion as what sets him apart.

Kapoor is a thought leader on AI-driven automation and patient-access solutions within the healthcare technology community. He solved practical problems, reduced appointment wait times, automated vaccine and medication delivery, improved patient-provider communication, and eliminated manual processes. His solutions are data-driven and are designed to support patients and providers.

He overcame critical challenges during the COVID-19 crisis. One of the difficult issues was predicting which patients might suddenly deteriorate. Kapoor's AI-driven risk models identified high-risk COVID-19 cases early, which enabled timely, life-saving interventions. He conducted AI analysis of multimodal data (combining chest X-rays, CT scans, and patient histories) to speed diagnosis and improve accuracy. These efforts exemplify his mission of tackling COVID-19 through AI by embedding artificial intelligence in every step of care.

Kapoor said that true innovation in healthcare is to solve the right problem at the right time. He learned that listening to end users (patients, caregivers, and support staff) is necessary to build authentic solutions. Speed was important during COVID-19, but it must always be balanced with compliance, trust, and compassion. A fast solution only works if it is also ethical, secure, and accessible under healthcare regulations. He also points out that cross-disciplinary collaboration is key: the best outcomes came when clinical, technical, and operational teams worked together toward a shared goal.

Kapoor offers these guiding principles for others in the field:

• Start with purpose: You should build technology to solve real-world problems, not just for innovation's sake.
• Stay adaptable: The healthcare landscape can shift unexpectedly, so be ready to learn, pivot, and evolve.
• Value small wins: Incremental improvements can create a massive impact over time, so value them.
• Lead with empathy: Ensure technology supports the human experience, not replaces, especially in healthcare.

Kapoor envisions himself continuing to drive innovation at the intersection of healthcare and technology on a global scale. He aspires to broader leadership roles where he can influence healthcare policy, strategy, and digital transformation across entire health systems. He is particularly passionate about expanding AI and automation in early disease detection, personalized care, and predictive public health. In his vision, healthcare becomes a more proactive, connected, and data-driven ecosystem that empowers providers and patients alike.

Long-term, he plans to give back through mentorship and thought leadership, sharing lessons from his journey to inspire the next generation of innovators. He wants to advise health-tech startups, partner with mission-driven organizations, and help shape ethical AI frameworks. Throughout, he insists that solutions must not only be intelligent and efficient but also equitable and compassionate. Kapoor measures success by impact: he wants to be known not for the technology itself, but for the lives that technology improves. As he said, technology with a purpose can transform healthcare and save lives.