About Me

Most healthcare software is designed for systems. I write about designing for humans.

I'm Akbar H. Shah, and for over two decades, I've been working at the intersection where healthcare meets design, technology meets empathy, and patient needs meet business realities. This isn't just what I do. It's the lens through which I see every problem worth solving.

The Problem I'm Solving

Patients shouldn't need a manual to book an appointment. Providers shouldn't fight their tools to care for patients. Yet most healthcare products fail both. That disconnect between what healthcare technology promises and what it actually delivers is what drives my work, and it's what I write about here.

Where I Stand Today

At healow (eClinicalWorks), I occupy a unique vantage point that shapes everything I share in this space. I wear two hats. Product Designer building patient engagement experiences from zero→1, and Digital Marketing Lead helping healthcare providers strengthen their online presence and patient acquisition.

This dual perspective gives me something rare in healthcare technology. I see the complete patient journey. From the moment someone searches "pediatrician near me" to how they interact with the product after they've chosen a provider. I understand what makes them click, what makes them book, and what makes them stay engaged with their care.

Currently, I'm building a healthcare product from concept to launch. Owning the vision, aligning stakeholders, and navigating the complex dance between HIPAA compliance and user experience excellence. I'm integrating AI powered features using generative and conversational AI to personalize patient engagement, not because AI is trendy, but because it solves real workflow problems.

What Shapes My Thinking

My career didn't start in healthcare. I began as a web designer, working with agencies that delivered solutions for brands like CarWale, Videocon d2h, Viraj, and Citi Group. That range of automotive, telecom, finance, real estate, and fashion taught me something crucial. Great design principles transcend industries, but great execution requires deep domain understanding.

This cross industry experience is my superpower. I don't approach problems with a single lens. I bring patterns from consumer products, insights from enterprise systems, and workflows from multiple sectors. Whether it's healthcare, fintech, automotive, or SaaS, the core challenge remains the same. How do you build products that solve real business problems while feeling effortless to use?

When I moved into healthcare IT, I didn't abandon everything I learned from other industries. I brought it with me. It's why I approach patient engagement differently. I don't just think about clinical workflows. I think about how people behave when they're anxious about their health, when they're confused by insurance, when they're trying to care for aging parents while managing their own lives. And I apply the same user centered thinking whether I'm designing for patients, car buyers, or financial services users.

This blog exists because complex products need more voices that understand both the technology and the humanity. More perspectives that can bridge the gap between what's technically possible and what's actually usable. More practitioners who've shipped real products across multiple industries, managed real teams, and seen real users struggle with interfaces that should work better.

While my current focus is healthcare, the principles I write about apply anywhere. B2B2C complexity exists in fintech, edtech, and enterprise SaaS. AI integration challenges appear in every vertical. The tension between compliance and user experience shows up in financial services, legal tech, and regulated industries everywhere. If you're building products that serve both businesses and end users, regardless of your industry, you'll find relevant insights here.

What I Write About

You'll find me exploring different areas.

Product Design Across Industries. How to build B2B2C products where businesses are clients and end users drive adoption. Why complexity in healthcare, fintech, or enterprise SaaS requires the same fundamental approach.

AI in Product Development. Not the hype, but the practical application of generative and conversational AI to solve real workflow problems across any domain.

Digital Strategy and User Acquisition. How businesses can build online presence that actually drives customer acquisition, not just visibility. Lessons from healthcare that apply to any service based industry.

The Human Side of Technology. Why most software fails at the basics, and what we can learn from consumer products without compromising business requirements or compliance.

Product Building. The messy, honest reality of taking products from concept to launch, regardless of industry.

Why I'm Writing This

Technology products are at an inflection point across every industry. AI is accelerating execution. Users expect consumer grade experiences. Businesses are drowning in complexity. The gap between what technology promises and what it delivers has never been more visible.

I write because I believe great design solves business problems, not just user problems. Because I've seen firsthand what happens when user experience is treated as a feature instead of a strategy. Because every industry deserves better than software that works for systems instead of humans.

This blog is where I share what I'm learning, what I'm building, and what I'm seeing from my position at the crossroads of product design, digital marketing, and AI powered innovation. Healthcare is my primary focus today, but the lessons apply wherever complex products meet real users.

Let's Connect

If you're building products across any industry, leading organizations through digital transformation, or trying to make sense of where AI fits in your product strategy, I'd love to hear from you. The best insights come from conversations with people solving similar problems in different contexts.

You can find me on LinkedIn, explore my design work on Dribbble and Behance, or reach out directly through my website.

When I'm not designing healthcare products or writing about them, you'll find me on long drives, exploring new food spots, or unwinding with YouTube or Netflix. I once dreamed of becoming a cricketer. A passion that taught me discipline, resilience, and teamwork. Those lessons still guide how I show up in every project and collaboration.