Today we’d like to introduce you to Marly Brodsky.
Hi Marly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into healthcare entrepreneurship didn’t start with a business idea; it started with a very personal loss. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer just three months after her diagnosis in 2020. Watching my grandmother and family struggle to understand what was happening, what questions to ask, and how to navigate the system changed me forever. I saw firsthand how overwhelming healthcare can be, even when you’re doing “everything right.”
Professionally, I spent over 15 years working across healthcare as a public health professional, healthcare executive, and strategist, helping systems improve outcomes, communication, and efficiency. But no matter how advanced the technology or how well-intentioned the system, I kept seeing the same gap: patients and families were being left confused, unheard, and alone.
That’s what led me to create MedCompanion. I wanted to build something human: real people trained to sit in the gap between patients and the healthcare system. MedCompanion provides virtual health advocates who attend appointments, take notes, ask questions, coordinate care, and help people actually understand and follow through on their health plans.
Today, MedCompanion serves individuals, families, caregivers, and health systems across multiple specialties. We’ve been featured nationally, partnered with clinics, supported value-based care models, and helped people regain clarity and confidence in moments that matter most. As a Latina founder, a mom of two, and a CEO, I’m building MedCompanion with one guiding belief: no one should have to navigate healthcare alone, and support shouldn’t be a luxury; it should be the standard of care.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, it’s been anything but smooth. Building MedCompanion has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life.
One of the biggest struggles was building something that didn’t fit into an existing box. Healthcare moves slowly, reimbursement is complex, and MedCompanion, a human-centered advocacy and navigation model, didn’t look like anything people were used to. In our early days, that unfamiliarity led to skepticism. We had people publicly calling MedCompanion a scam simply because it sounded too good to be true, and they couldn’t imagine a company like this actually existing.
That period was incredibly painful. Those comments shaped our reputation before we ever had a real chance to be known, and as a founder, it was devastating. I ended up shutting down our social media and putting the business on pause, not because I stopped believing in the mission, but because I needed to protect it and step back to rethink our strategy.
That pause became a turning point. I realized that doing meaningful work isn’t enough; you also have to own your story. I hired a PR team, refined our messaging, and learned how to clearly articulate what MedCompanion is, why it exists, and the real outcomes behind our work. That shift allowed us to re-emerge with clarity, confidence, and credibility, and it changed the company’s trajectory.
Along the way, I’ve also faced the realities of bootstrapping a mission-driven healthcare company while raising two young children, navigating grief, and learning how to lead at a higher level. I’ve made hard leadership decisions, trusted the wrong people at times, and learned that letting go isn’t failure, it’s growth.
The road hasn’t been easy, but every challenge forced clarity. Looking back, the struggles didn’t break the business; they strengthened it. They shaped a more grounded version of me as a leader and a company that’s deeply intentional about trust, transparency, and impact.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
MedCompanion is a healthcare navigation, management, and advocacy company built to solve one of the most overlooked problems in healthcare: confusion and loneliness. People don’t need more information; they need understanding, support, and an advocate.
We provide trained health advocates, called MedCompanions, who support individuals, families, and caregivers before, during, and after medical appointments. Our team attends visits virtually, takes notes, asks questions, clarifies next steps, coordinates care across providers, and helps people understand complex diagnoses, treatment plans, and systems. We work across multiple specialties and support both direct-to-consumer clients and healthcare organizations focused on improving patient experience, outcomes, and trust.
What sets MedCompanion apart is our human-first model. We don’t replace clinicians, and we don’t automate empathy. We sit in the gap, translating medical language into real life, ensuring patients are heard, and helping providers communicate more effectively. This approach has been nationally recognized: Forbes has called MedCompanion “the human prescription,” and Psychology Today has highlighted our work as redefining healthcare support.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the trust we’ve built. MedCompanion is known for being calm in moments of chaos, for showing up when families feel overwhelmed, and for restoring confidence during some of the most vulnerable moments in a health journey. We’ve partnered with clinics, supported value-based care initiatives, and been featured nationally, but the impact that matters most is often quiet: patients who finally understand their care, caregivers who feel less alone, and providers who feel supported rather than stretched thinner.
What I want readers to know is this: MedCompanion exists because healthcare shouldn’t feel isolating or confusing. Advocacy shouldn’t be a luxury, and no one should have to navigate their health alone. Our brand stands for clarity, dignity, and human-centered care, and that commitment shows up in everything we build.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Yes, and this is something I had to learn through experience.
What worked best for me was making a conscious decision to invest in proximity. I chose to be in rooms where people were already building at the level I aspired to reach. That meant investing time, energy, and money into communities, mentors, and environments that aligned with my values and the vision I was working toward. I stopped waiting for access and started creating it.
I was intentional about finding mentors who didn’t just have success, but whose integrity, leadership style, and mission resonated with me. Not everyone will understand or support what you’re building, and that’s okay. Staying true to yourself and your purpose matters more than universal approval.
Some of my biggest turning points didn’t come from a single idea or strategy; they came from conversations, relationships, and opportunities that emerged from the rooms I put myself in. Being open, offering support, asking thoughtful questions, and showing up as a beginner, even when it was uncomfortable, opened doors I couldn’t have planned for.
My advice is not to be afraid to invest in the right mentors, to look like a beginner, or to ask questions before you feel “ready” because the truth is that you will never be 100% ready. Growth often requires humility, courage, and the willingness to be seen learning. The right people will meet you there, and those connections can change everything. It’s also important to remember that you are enough, so don’t look for someone to save you; look for people who challenge you, tell you the truth, and help you think bigger while staying grounded. Trust is built slowly, and the strongest networks are rooted in authenticity, not transactions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.medcompanion.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medcompanion.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564399933059&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=UjZfxR0dfqDeG0IZ&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1BCsG1MccV%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlybrodsky
