Vanessa Bedoya shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Vanessa, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People often assume that ChoiceMD is “just another directory” or a static list of doctors, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. ChoiceMD was built to solve a very real problem that families in Miami-Dade face every day: navigating healthcare is overwhelming, confusing, and often discouraging. Most people don’t know where to start, especially when they’re dealing with chronic illness, a new diagnosis, disability, or trying to get the right support for their children.
What’s most misunderstood is that ChoiceMD isn’t a website, it’s a lifeline.
It’s a living, evolving ecosystem of vetted medical resources, nonprofit partners, hospitals, and specialized programs, all woven together so people can find exactly what they need without spending hours lost online. It bridges the gap between healthcare and community support in a way no other platform in Miami-Dade does.
Another misconception? That we only serve one audience. In reality, ChoiceMD was designed to support everyone, parents, seniors, caregivers, newcomers to the county, people with disabilities, those managing chronic conditions, and the organizations that serve them. It’s a tool for empowerment, connection, and clarity.
Our strongest points are simple but powerful:
Depth of resources: Our 50+ partnerships and community work means ChoiceMD brings together medical providers, nonprofit services, and county programs in one place.
Local credibility: We’re rooted in Miami-Dade’s real needs, our work with the county, hospitals, and community organizations gives the platform unmatched trust.
Patient centered design: Everything exists to reduce stress, eliminate confusion, and help families thrive.
Future forward innovation: Soon, people will not only find providers, they’ll be able to book appointments directly through us, making access seamless.
ChoiceMD is misunderstood only because what we’ve built hasn’t existed before: a comprehensive, compassionate, community-driven guide to healthcare in Miami-Dade.
Once people see what it does, and how many lives it touches, they understand its value immediately.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
If I had to introduce myself, I’d say I’m someone shaped by many identities: mother, founder, advocate, and, admittedly, a bit of a workaholic who still fiercely protects time for the people and experiences that keep me grounded; family, close friends, travel, and really good food.
Professionally, I’m the CEO and founder of ChoiceMD, a healthcare navigation platform designed to simplify access to medical resources across Miami-Dade County. What makes ChoiceMD unique is that it’s not just a directory; it’s a comprehensive, community centered tool that connects people to trusted healthcare providers, nonprofit services, and programs that support both physical and emotional well-being. We’re currently expanding features, including online appointment scheduling, to make accessing care even more seamless.
Alongside the platform, I also lead the ChoiceMD Cares Foundation, our nonprofit arm focused on addressing upstream factors that impact long-term health; particularly Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Through convenings, cross-sector collaboration, and community driven initiatives, the foundation works to prevent future health complications before they become diagnoses.
What truly sets my work apart is the lens through which I see the gaps in our system. Living with Multiple Sclerosis for more than two decades, combined with years of advocacy around ACEs, has given me an intimate understanding of the challenges families face. Those lived experiences have become an unexpected advantage, allowing me to design solutions rooted in empathy, practicality, and urgency.
Today, my focus is on scaling the impact of both ChoiceMD and the ChoiceMD Cares Foundation, ensuring that every resident in Miami-Dade; regardless of background, diagnosis, or circumstance; can find care, support, and prevention pathways without confusion or barriers.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world reshaped me, and long before I understood how deeply purpose could pull a person, I was a completely different version of myself. I was the life of the party. I loved to dance, to move, to feel alive. Martial arts ran through my veins; I started at four years old and carried that discipline, strength, and fire with me everywhere. I was fiercely independent, almost stubbornly so. I believed I could handle anything on my own. I’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog, for people navigating life without a safety net, and in many ways, that instinct would later find its true home in the work I do through the ChoiceMD Cares Foundation.
But everything changed at 21, when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was the kind of moment that divides your life into “before” and “after.” Some days, I still look back and wonder if MS entered my life as a teacher; one that forced me to slow down, to grow up faster than I wanted to, and to learn lessons I never would have learned dancing my way through life. Living with a chronic, disabling condition for over two decades has offered countless opportunities to need help, to lean on others, and to completely redefine what strength looks like.
That lived experience; navigating specialists, medications, misinformation, fear, and the endless maze of healthcare; became my greatest advantage later in life. It showed me firsthand how confusing and overwhelming the system can be, especially for people without resources, advocacy, or support. And that’s where my mission truly began.
Today, that mission lives through both ChoiceMD and the ChoiceMD Cares Foundation.
ChoiceMD was born from the gaps I lived through personally and the gaps I witnessed in my community every day. What started as survival became a countywide platform designed to help others navigate healthcare with clarity, confidence, and compassion. It’s not just a directory; it’s the most comprehensive, community-centered medical resource platform in Miami-Dade. We connect residents not only to doctors, but to specialists, nonprofit programs, hospital services, behavioral health resources, early childhood supports, disability services, and more. And soon, people will be able to book appointments directly through ChoiceMD, making access even simpler.
The ChoiceMD Cares Foundation is where we go further upstream, addressing the root causes that shape long-term health outcomes, particularly Adverse Childhood Experiences. It allows us to support prevention, collaboration, and systems change, ensuring fewer people ever have to reach crisis points within the healthcare system in the first place.
So who was I before the world told me who I had to be?
A fiery, free-spirited girl who believed independence was everything.
Who am I now?
A woman who has turned her hardest challenges into a roadmap for others. A founder building both solutions and safety nets. A bridge builder. A problem solver. Someone using her own journey to ensure no one else has to fight through the healthcare system alone.
And in many ways, that transformation; born from pain and shaped by resilience; is exactly what makes both ChoiceMD and the ChoiceMD Cares Foundation so powerful.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me empathy in a way success never could. Living with Multiple Sclerosis for over two decades, facing challenges I never anticipated, I learned what it truly feels like to be vulnerable, to need help, and to navigate a system that doesn’t always make it easy. Those experiences forced me to see the world through the eyes of others, to understand what people truly need, not just what they want.
Success can teach strategy, skill, and recognition, but suffering teaches perspective. It taught me to listen deeply, act compassionately, and build solutions that actually make a difference in people’s lives. That’s what drives everything I do at ChoiceMD: creating a platform that meets families where they are, removes barriers, and ensures no one faces their healthcare journey alone.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, it’s very much me. I don’t live a big public life, and I’m not trying to be anyone else. I grew up before everything had to be posted, filtered, and archived, so I’m more interested in actually living my life than documenting it.
My integrity drives everything I do, so what people see; in my work, with my family, or in my community; is genuinely who I am. ChoiceMD reflects that same energy. It’s practical, compassionate, and built to truly help people, not just look good online.
No façade, no highlight reel, and definitely no filters; just showing up, doing the work, and trying to make a real difference.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I’ve learned that humanity is far more important than most people realize. Life has a way of placing us in circumstances that can make us appear different on the outside, different in ability, status, or experience, but at the core, we’re all human. We all need compassion, support, and help at some point in our lives.
That understanding has shaped everything I do, personally and professionally. Creating ChoiceMD was my way of taking that insight and turning it into action. I wanted to build a platform that doesn’t just connect people to medical providers, but one that reflects empathy, understanding, and humanity in every interaction. It’s about meeting people where they are, recognizing their struggles, and giving them the tools and guidance to navigate healthcare with confidence and dignity.
For me, ChoiceMD isn’t just a business, it’s a manifestation of a simple truth I’ve learned through my own life: at the end of the day, everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and cared for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://choicemd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choicemd.miami
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChoiceMD
