Mechanical Engineering Alumni: Monica A. Kapil
Dr. Monica A. Kapil (BSME 鈥�09) is a nationally recognized engineer-scientist and innovation leader in digital health, with over a decade of experience advancing clinical research, medical devices, and patient-centered technologies. She earned her Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley & UCSF, a Master鈥檚 in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and a Bachelor鈥檚 in Mechanical Engineering from San Jos茅 State University鈥攚here she was named the 2025 Alumni of the Year by the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Currently, Dr. Monica A. Kapil works in New Product Development at iRhythm Technologies, a leading digital healthcare company specializing in disease detection, prediction, and prevention. Her work supports the development of next-generation wearable cardiac monitoring technologies aimed at advancing patient care and early diagnostics.
Previously, she led large-scale clinical research programs at Apple Inc., where she contributed to the development and launch of FDA-approved digital health features across Apple鈥檚 Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) portfolio. She also directed Apple鈥檚 largest decentralized clinical trial, significantly expanding equitable access to health insights for thousands of participants. Earlier in her career, Dr. Kapil held leadership roles at Gilead Sciences and Johnson & Johnson, and is a named inventor on more than 20 patents across drug delivery, medical devices, and digital health鈥攚ith technologies that have impacted millions of patients worldwide. Her work contributed to breakthrough therapies such as Spravato庐, a treatment for individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
As a proud 91传媒厂 Alumna, Dr. Kapil helped establish Mechanical Engineering Scholarships at 91传媒厂 through her work with previous employers, supporting diverse students engaged in academic excellence, research, and community outreach. As an undergraduate, she was actively involved in programs including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE), the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Engineering Program, the Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), and Science Extravaganza. She tutored peers in physics and chemistry, conducted research in Dr. Lee鈥檚 Microelectromechanical Systems Lab, and was recently invited to serve as a speaker at the 2025 Silicon Valley Women in Engineering Conference for the Biomed/Biotech Career Panel. She was also a recipient of the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
In addition to her technical achievements, Dr. Kapil serves as National Vice President of Chapters and Membership for MAES: Latinos in Science and Engineering, where she leads national initiatives to support Latino professionals and students in STEM through mentorship, leadership development, and strategic partnerships.
To the students: I was once in your shoes. My journey started right here at 91传媒厂, and it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to give back to the community that helped shape me. I hope you鈥檒l remember to lift others as you rise鈥攖hrough mentorship, encouragement, and service to the next generation of scientist and engineers.
