Sometimes life takes unexpected turns that end up enriching our perspective in ways we couldn't have imagined.

When a family health crisis required me to step away from tech, I found myself introduced to an industry I knew nothing about: Medical Tourism. It's a $300 billion market that most people never think about until they need it. And like any massive market hiding in plain sight, it was full of opportunities for innovation.

In Mexico, I discovered a steady stream of Americans and Canadians seeking medical and dental treatments. As a product manager, I couldn't help but notice the pain points: patients managing serious medical procedures far from home, struggling with language barriers, and navigating recovery without their support systems. It was a user experience crying out for improvement.

This led me to create Recovery Casa – a 5 bedroom beachside recovery home in Rosarito, Mexico. While other recovery centers struggled with language barriers and relied on Google Translate (imagine trying to communicate your pain levels through an app), we staffed medical assistants who could provide truly personalized care. Most local recovery homes barely had an internet presence; we saw an opportunity to bring tech-enabled convenience to a traditional industry.

It was fascinating to apply product market fit thinking in a completely different context. Instead of user stories and sprint planning, I was designing real-world experiences for people in vulnerable situations. The core principles remained the same: understand user needs, remove friction points, and create value through thoughtful solutions.

Unfortunately, just as things were gaining momentum, COVID hit. Borders closed, and all non-essential medical procedures were suspended indefinitely. The global health crisis and timing were catastrophic for a business in medical tourism.

The pandemic also forced me to refocus on what was truly important to me: family and friends. I realized I needed my support system more than ever, so I made the decision to move back to San Francisco, my happy place, where I could be closer to the people who matter most.