Leaders

Women make up close to half of India’s population, yet women’s health and wellness continues to be an underserved market. Conditions like PCOS, hypothyroidism, endometriosis, perimenopause etc. often hide behind irregular cycles and ambiguous symptoms making it essential to seek medical intervention. However, driven by stigma, women still rely on the Internet or close friends and family to access advice on such issues.

Dr Ritika V. Masih experienced this first hand when her patients would come to her with self-diagnoses. Her friend Kalpana also faced similar challenges in her life. Together, the duo set out to help Indian women receive qualified medical advice. Thus, Kynd was born. A FemTech menstrual tracking app, Kynd goes beyond basic period tracking by helping users monitor symptoms related to ailments. The app is designed to alert users to potential health concerns, encouraging timely medical consultation.

In her role as the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Kynd, Dr Ritika draws from her 15 years of clinical experience. Beyond her role as a doctor, Dr Ritika takes pride in playing various roles in life, such as that of a mother, a wife and a daughter. As a doctor, she is passionate about serving the community through her knowledge, experience, and expertise.

Give us a glimpse of your educational journey. What motivated you to foray into the field of healthcare?

I did my MBBS, and then went on to do post-graduation in emergency medicine, followed by family medicine from CMC, Vellore. Later, I pursued PG diploma in infectious diseases from UNSW, Australia and a fellowship in the same from CMC, Vellore.

Becoming a doctor was always my dream, it was my first and only choice. I was determined and worked hard, supported by my father, who always believed in me. As a practicing doctor, balancing work and personal life is challenging, but I am learning and growing every day.

Take us through your industry experience. Tell us about your expertise in infectious diseases.

I am a physician/GP with over 15 years of clinical experience and around 10 years of experience in infectious diseases. I have worked at several hospitals in Hyderabad and am currently working at my clinic and NextGen Hospital. Working across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare settings has added tremendously to my experience, exposure and knowledge.

In infectious diseases, my focus goes beyond just diagnosing and treating, it is also about preventing infections through proper infection control and Antimicrobial stewardship. One of the biggest issues we face today is antimicrobial resistance, largely caused by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. According to The Lancet, more than 39 million deaths are projected globally due to antibiotic-resistant infections by 2050. I try to create awareness about it wherever possible and hope to help people understand the importance of responsible antibiotic use and prevention.

What led you to co-found Kynd? What are the company’s key areas of expertise?

Kynd is a women-led startup co-founded by me along with my partner, Kalpana, who comes from a non-medical background. The idea for Kynd is based in Kalpana’s personal experience with menstrual health challenges. In times of need, she found herself relying on Google and friends. At the same time, I was seeing several female patients self-diagnosing based on vague app data or misinformation online. It sets a dangerous precent and we wanted to break this habit through Kynd.

Kynd isn’t just another period tracker. It’s designed to help women become more aware of their health throughout the entire cycle, not just during their periods. The goal is two-fold, which is to help women take control of their menstrual health and to empower doctors with detailed, accurate data via our doctor dashboard.

Kynd supports conditions often ignored by other apps, like PCOS, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and endometriosis. When something abnormal is detected, users get a timely alert and can either consult our in-house doctors or visit their physician. Either way, we encourage seeking medical advice rather than ignoring the signs.

What key roles and responsibilities do you shoulder at Kynd? How are you of driving growth for the company?

As the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at Kynd, I bring in my medical expertise, especially from working closely with women facing menstrual issues. I try to blend that hands-on experience with the latest advancements in medical science, integrating all new information from journals and updates.

I also work closely with our tech team, translating medical concepts into something they can build and test. We brainstorm every feature, test it out in the real world, and look after the glitches, always learning and improving.

My bigger goal is to use tech and eventually AI to help bridge the menstrual health data gap, as data around women's reproductive health is still limited.

Which critical challenges do you encounter in leading Kynd and how do you overcome them?

There is a significant gap in women's health awareness, particularly regarding menstrual health. Despite increased focus on reproductive health, there is still a lack of understanding and misinformation about PCOS, thyroidism, endometriosis, perimenopause, menopause, particularly among underserved and low-income women, circulating on social media platforms. Women make up half of the country’s population, but the market for menstrual hygiene is still considered 'niche'. The aim is to create awareness among all age groups.

AI and tech are here to stay. Doctors should not view it as a threat. Kynd app’s launch was met with concerns about privacy and data usage. It’s key to understand that the goal is to help people, not to threaten them. To build trust, transparency is crucial.

Which significant professional milestones have you achieved throughout your professional journey.

I was a distinction holder and gold medalist upon graduation. I am a member of the Infection Control Academy of India (IFCAI), the American Society of tropical medicine and Hygiene, a life member of the Association of Family Physicians of India, and the PCOS Society of India. For me, the real "win-win" moment is when a patient comes back smiling, saying she has improved or has started taking care of her health. The satisfaction of helping someone truly matters to me.

Dr Ritika V Masih, Co-Founder & CMO, KYND

Dr Ritika V. Masih is the Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Kynd, a health tech startup committed to transforming the way women experience menstrual and reproductive health. Bringing 15 years of clinical experience, she specializes in family medicine and infectious diseases. A gold-medalist doctor with deep clinical and academic expertise, Ritika blends her medical background with innovation, ensuring that the latest research and evidencebased practices directly inform the tech being built at Kynd.