Joseph R. Betancourt, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

BS, University of Maryland, 1990
MD, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, 1994
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health, 1998

Dr. Betancourt is an internist and director of the Disparities Solutions Center within the MIHP, which he joined in 2001. He is on the front lines of efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care nationally, aiming to ensure that every person has receives high quality, equitable care. Toward that end, Dr. Betancourt works to identify root causes of disparities and counsel policymakers on systemic and provider-based strategies to address them. He organizes and oversees educational initiatives and maintains a vigorous teaching and speaking schedule, locally and nationally.

Dr. Betancourt has served on several Institute of Medicine committees, starting with the committee that produced the seminal report Unequal Treatment (2002). His research interests include racial and ethnic disparities in health care, the impact of cross-cultural education on health outcomes, minority recruitment into the health professions, and health policy as related to minority populations. Dr. Betancourt has served as Principal Investigator on grants from the National Cancer Institute, the Health Resources and Services Administration, The Commonwealth Fund, The California Endowment and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among others. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on: racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care; hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease in minority communities; cross-cultural care and education; clinical decision-making; ethics; workforce diversity; and the impact of language barriers on health care.

Dr. Betancourt serves on the Massachusetts Disparities Council and is Co-Chair of the MGH Committee on Racial/Ethnic Disparities and the Harvard Medical School Cross-Cultural Care Committee.