Solving Real Healthcare Problems with Tech: Naimisha Kaza’s Story
Naimisha Kaza portrait. Photo sourced from LinkedIn.
For Naimisha Kaza, Information Systems, fall ’25, technology has always been more than code—it is a tool to solve meaningful problems in healthcare. At Northeastern University’s College of Engineering, Kaza has built an academic and professional journey that bridges biomedical engineering, software development, and real-world healthcare innovation.
Naimisha Kaza earned her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Manipal University, where she developed a strong foundation in healthcare systems and medical technology. Alongside her studies, she gained early professional experience as a partner at SR Multispecialty Hospital. In this role, Kaza worked on developing a Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), analyzed patient data to generate actionable insights, and supported hospital marketing and operational improvements. This hands-on exposure to healthcare operations highlighted the critical role technology plays in improving efficiency, decision-making, and patient care—an insight that ultimately shaped her decision to pursue graduate study.
Motivated to deepen her technical expertise and apply technology to real-world healthcare challenges, Kaza chose Northeastern University for its strong academic reputation and industry-oriented curriculum. “Northeastern stood out because of its emphasis on practical, real-world learning,” she shared. The Information Systems program aligned seamlessly with her goal of building a career in health technology, while the work and teaching approach of faculty members such as Professor Khaled Bugrara further influenced her decision to enroll.
Throughout the program, Kaza has strengthened her technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills through coursework that directly reflects industry needs. She cites Operational Risk Management, taught by Professor Kaleigh Sieczkowski, and Advanced Medical Software Development, taught by Professor Bemin Ghobreal, as particularly impactful. These courses provided her with a deeper understanding of healthcare regulations, including FDA considerations, risk-aware system design, and the practical development of medical software solutions.
One of Kaza’s most significant academic projects was the development of a Smart Inhaler healthcare application as part of Professor Ghobreal’s course. The project offered hands-on experience in building a healthcare-focused application while navigating regulatory constraints and technical complexity. Through structured planning, teamwork, and continuous learning, Kaza and her teammates designed a solution with real-world applicability in patient monitoring and clinical workflows.
Rather than pursuing a co-op, Kaza chose to graduate early and gain experience through academic and research-focused roles. She served as a Teaching Assistant under Professor Sieczkowski, supporting course delivery while strengthening her own technical understanding. She also worked as a Commercialization Research Associate at Northeastern’s Center for Research and Innovation, where she gained exposure to translating research into practical, market-ready solutions.
Kaza’s accomplishments extend beyond the classroom. During her undergraduate studies, she published an IEEE research paper focused on applying machine learning and explainable AI techniques to diabetes prediction—a milestone she achieved at the age of 22. The project provided hands-on experience in healthcare data analysis, model interpretation, and the responsible use of AI in medical contexts. She also received the Best Student Award at the Oxford University Summer School, recognizing her academic performance, engagement, and overall contribution in a global learning environment.
Mentorship has played a central role in Kaza’s development. She credits undergraduate mentors Dr. KrishnaRaj Chadaga and Dr. Niranjana Sampathila for instilling discipline and guiding her research, as well as Northeastern faculty members Professors Sieczkowski and Ghobreal for helping her connect theory to real-world applications.
Looking ahead, Kaza aspires to build a career in the health-tech industry, developing technology-driven solutions that improve patient care and strengthen healthcare systems. Her journey at Northeastern, she says, has been both challenging and rewarding—reinforcing her commitment to using technology to create meaningful impact in healthcare.