Exclusive: Founder of MyAbroadMDs Cori Cohen Reveals Her Daughter Inspired Her to Start the Platform: 'Pack a Plan'

Before Cori Cohen's daughter left for her semester abroad, she came to her feeling "stressed" — but not about the flight or packing.

“'What if I get sick over there? Who do I call?' Her program didn’t offer much clarity, and as her mom, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d be vulnerable far from home," Cohen exclusively tells Morning Honey.

From there, she created something just for her — "a directory of English-speaking doctors near where she’d be living, along with pharmacies, specialists, and urgent care options. I wanted her to feel safe, even from miles away," she shares. "Soon, other families asked if I could do the same for their kids. Then friends started saying, 'Where was this when I traveled?' That’s when I realized this wasn’t just a personal solution — it was a platform the travel world had been missing."

Cohen couldn't understand how people prepare for mostly everything when traveling— the outfits, the hotels, the restaurants — but when it comes to our health, "we just hope nothing happens," she explains.

"That’s a lot of risk to leave to chance. MyAbroadMDs is about being proactive instead of reactive. It gives you peace of mind before you even zip up your suitcase," she states.

"Travel healthcare was built around insurance, hotlines, and hope. But that doesn’t work for modern travelers — especially those navigating new cities, languages, and time zones," she adds. "There wasn’t a system designed to help people advocate for themselves abroad — until now. MyAbroadMDs meets travelers where they are: digitally, personally, and on their terms."

"Right now, members visit our website and take a short quiz. Based on their needs and itinerary, we recommend a membership tier. Then we send them a Curated Doctor Directory tailored to their destination — complete with English-speaking doctors, specialists, urgent care clinics, pharmacies, and even hotel-visiting physicians," Cohen says of how it all works. "They also get access to our PIMS Vault — a secure space to store health records and travel documents, just in case something happens. And this December, we’re launching our mobile app. You’ll be able to open it in Florence, Tokyo, or Cape Town and immediately know who to contact if you’re not feeling well. It’s like having a quiet safety net in your pocket."

Each membership includes a Curated Doctor Directory and access to the PIMS Vault, but we’ve designed them for different types of travelers:

Sickness & Health – A go-to for honeymooners or couples taking their first trip together.

Student Semester Abroad – Perfect for families with kids heading off to study overseas.

Family Voyager – For families who want to be prepared for any trip, big or small.

Care Beyond Borders – Our concierge tier, for people managing chronic conditions or moving abroad long-term.

"The goal is to make personalized healthcare access feel just as customizable as the rest of your trip," she says.

"The app launch is our next major step, but beyond that, we’re partnering with study abroad programs, concierge medical groups, and travel agencies. My goal is for MyAbroadMDs to become as essential as a passport. Something you don’t travel without — not because you expect a crisis, but because you deserve to feel prepared," she continues.

Going forward, the businesswoman wants "MyAbroadMDs to be something people just expect to have — the way we think about TSA PreCheck or travel insurance. But more than that, I want people to feel empowered. To know that their health is worth planning for, just like everything else in their itinerary," she says. "And I’d love to see our reach expand globally — not just for travelers from the U.S., but for anyone going abroad who wants to feel safer doing it."

"I’d love to build out our tech even more — with AI tools that act like a discreet health concierge as you travel, and I want to keep highlighting the doctors we feature. These are dedicated professionals all over the world, and they deserve recognition. We celebrate chefs with stars. Why not doctors who show up when we need them most?" she adds.

Additionally, the feedback from the platform has been "incredibly moving."

"Travelers from all walks of life — students, parents, newlyweds, retirees — have all said the same thing: 'Where was this when I needed it?' Everyone has a story. A time they got sick abroad and had no idea where to go. MyAbroadMDs helps change that narrative — giving people the tools to stay calm, feel informed, and get the care they need. Doctors abroad have been just as enthusiastic. Many tell us they’re thrilled to be connected with travelers directly, without all the insurance red tape. And for parents? Knowing their kids have a real plan in place is everything," Cohen, who loves discovering "new cities" herself, states.

"Don’t just pack your bag — pack a plan. You don’t need to be anxious or paranoid. But knowing who to call if you get sick? That changes everything. It lets you travel boldly — and that’s what it should be about," she concludes.