Ep 36. Pageantry, Purpose & Pain: Akifa Khattak’s FemTech Mission to End Endometriosis Silence

Akifa Khattak was not just one of the Miss Universe Pakistan finalists - she’s also a healthcare attorney, biotech entrepreneur, and women’s health advocate on a mission to change how we diagnose and treat endometriosis.

In this powerful conversation, Akifa shares how a rare, life-altering health journey led her to co-found Her Health AI, a FemTech company pioneering non-invasive endometriosis diagnostics and surgical lesion mapping. She opens up about cultural taboos around pelvic health, the unseen financial and family costs of chronic illness, and why pageantry became an unexpected but transformative platform to bridge East and West.

This episode is about turning pain into purpose, breaking silence around women’s health, and redefining success as “contentment of the soul.”

Episode Takeaways:

• Why endometriosis remains one of the most painful yet underdiagnosed diseases worldwide
• How Akifa turned her personal health battle into Her Health AI 
• The role of family, male allyship, and cultural attitudes in women’s health journeys
• Why pelvic health conversations matter — intimacy, identity, and everyday life
• How pageantry became a global platform for advocacy, representation, and bridging cultures
• Perfectionism, resilience, and Akifa’s take on failing forward
• What it means to reimagine success through legacy, balance, and contentment

About Our Guest — Akifa Khattak, JD, MHA, MS Biotech
Akifa Khattak is a healthcare attorney and biotech entrepreneur. With advanced degrees from Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and Harvard, she has worked at the intersection of law, biotech, and health policy — including women’s health reimbursement initiatives with the White House. After being diagnosed with endometriosis and undergoing multiple surgeries, she co-founded Her Health AI to create a non-invasive diagnostic and lesion-mapping tool for the millions of women worldwide affected by this disease. Akifa is also the founder of Codiva, a holistic women’s health supplement brand, and an advocate for bridging East and West through pageantry, creativity, and global representation.

Connect with Akifa:
🌐 Website: https://herhealthai.com/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akifa-khattak-jd-mha-ms-biotech-558a041b/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akifakhattak/

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking
🌐 No-Cost Application to Join The Unmasking Perfectionism Community: https://unmaskingperfectionism.com/
📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx Talk
Perfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4Vg3s&t=3s 

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

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Content Note
This episode includes discussion of chronic pain, fertility, surgeries, and women’s reproductive health challenges.