We were lucky to catch up with Khatira Safari recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Khatira, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear stories from your time in school/training/etc.

My educational journey has been both diverse and deeply enriching. I began in a traditional pre-med track during my undergraduate studies and even completed the MCATs in preparation for medical school. However, along the way, I became more interested in integrative and holistic approaches to health, which led me to pursue chiropractic medicine. While in chiropractic school, I had the unique opportunity to participate in full cadaver dissections. This hands-on experience gave me an extensive and detailed understanding of human anatomy—something that continues to inform my diagnostic and treatment approach as a practitioner today. I also had the chance to study pharmacology alongside chiropractic training, which provided me with a solid foundation in pharmaceuticals. This has proven incredibly valuable in my current work, as it allows me to understand and collaborate effectively with patients who are managing conventional medications.
Two years into my chiropractic program, I decided to further specialize in Eastern medicine and began my acupuncture degree. It was the perfect intersection of my growing passion for holistic care and my strong biomedical foundation. This blend of rigorous Western science and traditional Eastern practice shapes my approach as a Doctor of Acupuncture, allowing me to offer well-rounded, integrative care to my patients.

Khatira, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

About Me & My Journey into Integrative Healing Hello I’m Dr. Safari, Doctor of Acupuncture and founder of Harmony Integrative Health (HIH). My path into this field hasn’t been linear, but the turns along the way deeply shaped how I practice and what I value in healing.
From the start, I was committed to biomedicine: I pursued pre‑med in undergrad, took the MCAT, and was on track for medical school. But as I progressed, I began to feel drawn toward a more holistic, patient‑centered approach. That led me to chiropractic school, where I immersed myself in anatomy, physiology, pathology — but also in seeing the body as an integrated, dynamic system.
One of the most formative experiences in chiropractic training was cadaver dissection. Working at that level of detail — observing muscle layering, neural pathways, vascular structures — fostered me a high level of anatomical insight. It taught me not just what structures exist, but how they relate in three dimensions. That deep anatomical insight now underlies every acupuncture point I select, every insertion depth I choose, and every structural imbalance I assess.
Alongside chiropractic coursework, I dove into pharmacy studies. Learning pharmacodynamics, drug interactions, and pharmaceutical therapeutics wasn’t just a credential — it became a lens through which I could understand how conventional and complementary care might intersect. Today, that knowledge helps me communicate confidently with patients and their prescribing physicians, ensuring integrative plans that are safe, coherent, and synergistic.
After two years in chiropractic school, I made the decision to pursue an acupuncture degree. That choice wasn’t a rejection of my prior training — rather, it was an integration. Today, I stand at the intersection of Western biomedical rigor and Eastern energetic wisdom.

What I Do − Services, Approach & Philosophy
At Harmony Integrative Health (HIH), we offer more than acupuncture: we deliver whole‑person medicine.
Core services include:
Traditional and electroacupuncture
Herbal medicine
Functional nutrition
Mind‑body therapies
Cosmetic acupuncture, microneedling & light therapy (for skin health & aesthetics)

We treat an array of conditions:
Chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, migraines
Hormonal imbalances, fertility, pregnancy support, menopause
Digestive, autoimmune, stress/insomnia and internal medicine concerns
Neuropathy, post‑treatment support in oncology
Cosmetic / skin health (anti‑aging, pigmentation, facial rejuvenation)

In practice, the process typically starts with a 90‑minute intake + treatment, so I can get a full picture of your history, labs, and goals. Follow-ups are 60 minutes.

My aim is never to just suppress symptoms but to uncover root causes, restore systemic balance, and empower clients to engage actively in their healing.

What Sets Me & HIH Apart
Biomedically grounded + energetically sensitive
Because of my training in anatomy, chiropractic medicine, and pharmacy, I’m able to bridge Western and Eastern modalities thoughtfully. I don’t discard either paradigm — I seek the intersection.
Precision through deeper understanding
Cadaver dissection and structural studies sharpened my “inner map” of the body. That anatomical clarity allows for more confident needle placement, safer protocols, and better assessments of musculoskeletal‑energetic interplay.

Collaborative spirit
I see conventional medicine, pharmaceuticals, and integrative therapies as collaborators rather than adversaries. My pharmaceutical literacy allows me to converse fluently with MDs, naturopaths, and other care team members, ensuring cohesive care.

Personalized, root‑cause care
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all protocols, every client gets a plan tailored to their constitution, lab data, lifestyle, and goals. The emphasis is on long-term resilience, not quick fixes.

Love for beauty + internal health
Cosmetic acupuncture and skin health are not merely aesthetic add-ons — they are expressions of internal balance manifesting outwardly. I believe radiant skin is an organ’s “business card” of internal harmony.

Warm, compassionate space
Healing is relational. I strive to offer a safe, nurturing environment where clients feel seen, heard, and supported. Many find that trust, continuity, and presence are as important as any needle.

What I’m Most Proud Of & What I Want You to Know
I’m most proud of the moments when clients discover something new about their bodies — when they realize they can heal, sometimes in spite of what doctors told them. Whether it’s someone regaining mobility after years of chronic pain, or someone navigating fertility challenges, those transformations are what make all the training, doubt, and pivoting worthwhile.

What I want potential clients, followers, or collaborators to know:
You won’t be a “case,” you’ll be a person with a story.
I bring both curiosity and discipline — I’ll question “Why is this here?” and look for patterns rather than patch symptoms.
I hold both respect for evidence and openness to subtlety; I use research as a guide, not a cage.
I value transparency — about cost, timeline, expectations, and risk.
I believe healing is participatory — I’ll teach you, coach you, and support you to take ownership of your wellness.
If you’re drawn to a different kind of medicine — one that listens, integrates, and aims for lasting balance — then you’re already aligned with the vision here at Harmony Integrative Health. I’d be honored to walk that path with you.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back, would I choose the same profession, specialty, etc.? Absolutely! Though I didn’t start out aiming to become a Doctor of Acupuncture, I truly believe I ended up exactly where I’m meant to be.
If you had asked me years ago, when I was studying for the MCATs and preparing for medical school, I never would’ve imagined I’d one day be practicing Eastern medicine, using acupuncture needles and herbs to help people heal. But as I look back, every step along the way — from pre-med to chiropractic school to in-depth anatomy labs and pharmacy training — all contributed to the depth and clarity I bring to my work now.
What I love most about this profession is that it allows me to bring together the structure and science of Western medicine with the subtle, individualized wisdom of Eastern healing. I get to address root causes, treat the whole person, and actually spend time with my patients — which was something I felt was missing in the more conventional medical model I was initially headed toward.
So yes, I would choose this path again — not because it was always clear or easy, but because it’s deeply aligned with how I believe healing should happen. It’s been incredibly rewarding to help people not just feel better, but truly reclaim their health in sustainable, empowered ways.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field? Compassion, curiosity, and presence — these are the qualities I believe make the biggest difference in this field.
While strong clinical training is essential, what truly sets a practitioner apart is the ability to see the person in front of you, not just their symptoms. Patients often come in feeling dismissed, unheard, or like a list of diagnoses. Being able to hold space for their story, and to meet them without judgment; is often the first and most powerful step toward healing.
Curiosity is equally important. No two patients are exactly alike, even if they share the same diagnosis. You have to be willing to keep asking “Why?” and look deeper — beyond the surface-level symptoms — to uncover patterns and root causes. That mindset of exploration is what leads to truly personalized care.
And finally, presence. In a world that moves fast, being fully present with someone–really listening, observing, and attuning — is rare. But in this work, presence is medicine. Patients can feel it, and it builds trust, which is the foundation for effective healing.
So while degrees and clinical skills are necessary, I believe it’s these human qualities — compassion, curiosity, and presence — that make a truly exceptional practitioner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://harmonyintegrativehealth.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.safari_hih/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HIHdrsafari
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-khatira-safari-4054ba108/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/harmony-integrative-health-lansdowne

Image Credits
My own website.