The software world loses a great programmer...

... to the healthcare world!

I recently switched to a full time role with NephroPlus. These have been very exciting times. Throughout my working life, the only thing I have ever done was software. Development, testing, managing. Years full of deadlines, requirements, design documents and code reviews. It has been a very rewarding experience.

When I started off in late 1999 at Summa Computers, the company belonging to my mother's friend, it was my first job. I was part time. I had just settled down into CAPD after the extremely tumultuous two-odd years with kidney disease and the unsuccessful transplant. I was itching to do something useful and my mother's friend agreed to take me on. I started learning Visual Basic and MS SQL Server.

A few months later, Obul, my uncle Paul's friend was looking to start a software company around web applications using Apple's WebObjects and he was in India and we met up and Effigent was born. Effigent took up the next eight years of my life. I worked on WebObjects apart from doing a lot of management. Effigent was definitely the most significant part of my career till now. I learnt a lot during these years both in terms of software and general stuff as well.

Somewhere in the middle, the tsunami happened and I had to eventually move from PD to home hemo.

I then joined Grene in November 2008 and worked on WebObjects, Cocoa and Cocoa Touch. This were probably my best two years as a pure programmer with no management distraction. I did some great work on home automation.

Software was my first love. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

I have been involved with NephroPlus since Day 1. There is no doubt in my mind that the work I do at NephroPlus is my 'calling'. I have struggled for years to find it. I am glad that I have. Many people don't. So, that way I am fortunate.

Life is very different from that in the software world. When you develop software, you basically enable people to do things. Outside it, you actually do those things! I am now on the other side of the fence where I am looking after the implementation of software prepared by someone else at NephroPlus.

I am very excited about the work at NephroPlus. I hope the years to come are productive, fruitful and intellectually satisfying!

Comments

Kamal! Does that mean you are leaving your job in s/w world and is fully on Nephroplus? In fact i have gone through the blog twice to see if i missed something :) ....Sorry i didn't understand your intention over the blog.
Kamal D Shah said…
Yes, Thrinath, I left my software job and am now full time with NephroPlus!
Anonymous said…
Good luck dude. I am sure you will love it.
Ramesh PVK said…
Kamal, Wherever u are, whatever u do, u will rock !! All the best.
Kamal D Shah said…
Thanks Anonymous! Thanks Ramesh!
B said…
Hi Kamal...is this change in career also means your work is philanthropic or will you be remunerated for the services in NephroPlus ?
Kamal D Shah said…
Bhanu, NephroPlus is a for-profit organization and I will be compensated for my work.

I volunteer for another organization that provides subsidized dialysis for the needy. But I also have huge medical bills so I absolutely need to earn money to pay them. And this field is closer to my heart for obvious reasons.
Akbar Pasha said…
Congratulations! Doing what you love most is a blessing and very few people can openly admit to it. I wish you well in your new endeavor. Let's catch up soon when I am over in Hyd next month.

So happy for you.