Anil Kumar Kandalam has become a pioneering force in healthcare technology, known for transforming outdated legacy systems into agile, AI-powered platforms that improve performance, reduce costs, and increase data accuracy. As one of the most sought-after engineers in the healthcare industry, his skills in upgrading legacy systems and seamlessly integrating advanced AI tools have set him apart in a field where precision, speed, and data integrity are crucial.
“I’ve helped eliminate old systems and introduce new ones that saved time and reduced costs significantly,” Anil explains.
With a career spanning over 14 years, Anil has built a reputation for his ability to overhaul complex healthcare platforms, making them faster, more reliable, and vastly more effective.
Anil’s journey started in Andhra Pradesh, India, where his early fascination with math and logic led him to computer science and a Bachelor of Technology degree in the same field from JNTU Hyderabad.
His career spanned diverse industries—from insurance to aviation—before he discovered his true passion in healthcare technology. Today, Anil is a Lead Platform Engineer at PSL Group, where his groundbreaking work is transforming healthcare platforms to deliver faster, more accurate data to professionals worldwide.
Guru Prasath Sethumadhavan is Associate Director of QA in Development and Automation on cloud platforms. He joined P/S/L in 2017, where he first met Anil and witnessed his strong technical abilities.
“We saw him leading the development team in an exceptional way with strong technical and domain knowledge,” Sethumadhavan recalls. “He is a quick learner of cloud technology who can master it within a few months.”
One of Anil’s most notable accomplishments is his work on transforming legacy systems into AI-driven platforms. Legacy systems, while reliable, are often inefficient and slow, and lack the flexibility to handle the demands of modern healthcare. Anil saw this as an opportunity to innovate.
“There’s a responsibility in healthcare technology that you don’t find in other sectors,” Anil says. “When you work in healthcare, the platforms you build directly impact people’s lives. Every improvement we make, every second we save, can have a real impact on someone’s health outcomes.”
He began developing methods to upgrade these outdated systems, integrating artificial intelligence to speed up data flow and enhance reliability without needing costly, disruptive overhauls. His efforts have brought substantial cost savings and efficiency improvements to healthcare organizations, enabling them to focus more resources on patient care.
“Many healthcare organizations are tied to legacy systems that they fear will be too costly or complex to replace,” he explains. “My goal is to find a way to work with those existing systems rather than starting from scratch. By bringing in AI and integrating it seamlessly, we can enhance these systems’ performance and make them work better without a full-scale rebuild.”
Krishna Chaitanya Chimakurthi, Digital Solution Architect Director at NTT Data, met Anil while working for TIBCO Technologies. As a colleague and friend of 10 years, Chimakurthi speaks to Anil’s contributions to a prestigious project while working with TIBCO.
“He was a key member of a prestigious [airline] project when I joined at that time,” Chimakurthi says. “Anil’s technical skills, solutions, and problem-solving were commendable. He also brought a great discipline and process to the project.”
One of the cornerstones of Anil’s work is his development of Dougall GPT, an AI-powered tool that provides healthcare professionals instant access to reliable information from trusted sources. Unlike many general-purpose AI tools, Dougall GPT has been explicitly tailored to meet the needs of healthcare providers, ensuring the information it delivers is both relevant and accurate. In an industry where data quality is paramount, Dougall GPT has quickly become an invaluable tool for doctors, researchers, and healthcare administrators.
“Healthcare professionals need reliable data they can trust, especially in high-stakes situations,” Anil says. “With Dougall GPT, we’re able to ensure that the information comes only from vetted, verified sources, giving professionals the confidence that they’re working with accurate information.”
Anil’s work with Dougall GPT was critical because it provides healthcare professionals with trusted, real-time data. This helps them stay informed and make decisions more quickly.
Anil recalls the urgency of those early days: “It was clear that getting the right information into the hands of healthcare professionals was critical. We launched a DG Covid-19 newsletter to provide information. I’m proud of the impact it had. We also worked around the clock to ensure Dougall GPT could meet the demands of the healthcare sector for its launch in 2023.”
Beyond his innovations in AI, Anil has made significant strides in migrating legacy healthcare systems to the cloud, a move that has dramatically reduced operational costs and increased efficiency. His work with cloud technology, which he first developed with Allstate Insurance and JetBlue Airways, allowed him to cut down maintenance costs by as much as 30%, helping healthcare organizations reallocate funds to more patient-centered initiatives. The savings these cloud migrations provide are critical in a sector where budgets are tight and every dollar counts.
“My approach is always about delivering value,” Anil notes. “Moving these systems to the cloud saves money and makes them faster, more scalable, and more reliable. It’s a win-win for healthcare providers and patients alike.”
His adaptability and deep understanding of healthcare’s unique challenges make Anil stand out in his field. He doesn’t just introduce new technologies; he ensures they integrate seamlessly with existing systems. This skill is particularly important in healthcare, where even minor disruptions can have significant repercussions. As a result, he has become a go-to engineer for organizations looking to modernize without compromising service quality.
“Introducing new technology is easy, but making it work within a complex, existing ecosystem is where the real skill lies,” Anil explains. “In healthcare, you must be very careful about system integrity and data accuracy. I work hard to create solutions that enhance the existing infrastructure without causing any interruptions.”
Anil’s work has not gone unnoticed. This year, he was recognized with the ‘International Achievers Award” from the Indian Achievers Forum. He was also awarded the title of “Prominent Industry Expert of the Year 2024” by Business Mint for his contributions to data engineering and AI integration in healthcare. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He also serves as a mentor on ADPList, guiding over 50 mentees worldwide. His mentorship has inspired a new generation of healthcare engineers, who regard him as a model of technical excellence and dedication.
Certifications in Databricks bolster his expertise in healthcare technology: Generative AI Fundamentals, AWS (AI Practitioner, Certified Developer, Certified Solutions Architect, Cloud Practitioner), and TIBCO Business Works 5.x.
Siva Dutta, a Senior Integration Developer who has worked with Anil since 2014, lauds him as an exceptional colleague and a trusted friend: “He consistently demonstrates professional integrity while maintaining genuine personal connections.
Anil’s technical prowess is particularly evident in his ability to develop solutions that seamlessly bridge current challenges with future scalability needs. A standout example was his innovative approach to optimizing system performance by implementing a sophisticated API response caching mechanism. This custom solution significantly reduced backend calls while maintaining data integrity, demonstrating his ability to think creatively within technical constraints while delivering substantial performance improvements.”
Siva goes on to say: “His commitment to staying ahead of industry trends, particularly in AI and emerging technologies, has been invaluable for my professional development, as he regularly shares insights about future market directions and technological advancements.”
Anil’s commitment to knowledge-sharing extends beyond his immediate team. Known for his collaborative approach, he regularly participates in hackathons like those at MIT. He also serves as a judge, sharing his expertise with the next generation of tech innovators through participation in events like the 2024 QS Reimagine Education Awards, Business Intelligence Group’s Cloud Computing and Sustainability Awards, the HCM Technology Awards Program and the Globee Awards for 2023 and 2024.
His influence is felt both within his company and the healthcare tech community, where his work is regarded as a benchmark for innovation. As he looks to the future, Anil is optimistic about the potential of AI and cloud technology in healthcare. His vision is to create platforms that make information readily available, empowering healthcare professionals to make faster, more informed decisions.
“AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare,” he says. “We’re only scratching the surface of what it can do. I aim to keep pushing the boundaries, finding new ways to make healthcare more efficient, accurate, and accessible.”
Anil Kumar Kandalam is not just transforming legacy systems; he is shaping the future of healthcare engineering, creating platforms that bring speed, reliability, and accuracy to a sector that impacts lives daily. With his unique skills, dedication, and vision for what healthcare can become, Anil is set to continue leading the charge, delivering innovations that will define the next era of healthcare technology.
