Christian Betancourt Ph.D., MS-HSA

Education

Ph.D. Health Services Research (Health Systems and Policy) – George Mason University
M.S., Health Sciences, Health Services Administration – University of Central Florida
B.S., Health Sciences, Health Care Administration – University of Phoenix

Biography

LCDR Christian Betancourt was born in Cali, Colombia, and now lives in Fairfax, VA. He enlisted in the Navy in 1998 as a Hospital Corpsman in Great Lakes, Illinois. He began his enlisted career at 2nd Marine Division, 3rd Battalion 6th Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as a Fleet Marine Force corpsman. In 2001, he served as an Emergency Medical Technician and as the Leading Petty Officer for the Acute Care Clinic at Naval Branch Health Clinic, Jacksonville, FL. In 2004, Christian was assigned as the Junior Medical Officer Representative on the USS McInerney (FFG-8) based out of Mayport, Florida. LCDR Betancourt continued his career at the Naval Branch Health Clinic in Mayport, Florida, from 2008 to 2010 as the Leading Petty Officer for the Dental Department. Christian separated from the Navy in 2010, and in 2011, he graduated with a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. He worked as a federal employee for the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center as the Administrative Officer for the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP).
LCDR Betancourt was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 2014 and reported to Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan. He served in several leadership roles in the Patient Administration, Materiel Management, and Data Quality Departments. LCDR Betancourt attained the credential of Certified Defense Financial Manager in 2016. He reported to the Navy Professional Development Center, Bethesda, Maryland, in August 2017 as the Director of Resource Management - Comptroller. He attained his Ph.D. in Health Services Research from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, in May, 2022. He is currently the director of the Master of Health Administration and Policy (MHAP) program in the Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics (PMB) department. LCDR Betancourt’s military decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Fleet Marine Force designator devices, as well as multiple unit and service awards. He is married to his wife of 24 years, Angelica, and has two children, Christian (19) and Gabriella (14).

Representative Bibliography

Yoon, J. (Presenter), Richard, P., Betancourt, CA. (2023). Chronic Pain and Economic Burden of Healthcare Services for Veterans. Abstract and Poster presentation at the Military Health System Research Symposium, Orlando, FL

Betancourt, CA. (Presenter), Goldberg, D., Hawks, B., Kitsantas, P. (2023). Perspectives of Homeless U.S. Military Veterans Living with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Mental Illness. Abstract and oral presentation at the International Health Economics Association bi-annual Congressional Conference, Cape Town, South Africa.

Yoon, J., Betancourt, CA. (Presenter) (2023).The Impact of Behavioral Health Parity on Access to Specialty Mental Health Care: Evidence from the U.S. Military Health System. Abstract and oral presentation at the International Health Economics Association bi-annual Congressional Conference, Cape Town, South Africa.

Betancourt, C. A. (2022). Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health Illnesses Among U.S. Veterans: A Multi-Method Study Using Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods [Doctoral dissertation, George Mason University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Betancourt, C. A., Kitsantas, P., Goldberg, D. G., & Hawks, B. A. (2022). Prescription Opioid Misuse and Suicidal Behaviors Among US Veterans: A Cross-Sectional Study from the 2015–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 50(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-022-09820-5

Betancourt C. A., Kitsantas P., Goldberg D. G., Hawks B. A. (2021). Substance Use Relapse Among Veterans at Termination of Treatment for Substance Use Disorders, Military Medicine, Volume 187, Issue 11-12, November-December 2022, Pages e1422–e1431, https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab280

Betancourt C. A. (Presenter), Kitsantas P., Goldberg D. G., Hawks B. A. (2021). An Investigation of Substance Use Relapse Among Veterans After Receiving Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: A Nationally Representative Study. Abstract and Poster presentation at the Military Health System Research Symposium, Orlando, FL

Parekh T., Betancourt C. A. (Presenter) (2020). Predictors and trend of treatment completion for substance use disorders among veterans. Abstract and Poster presentation at the American Public Health Association conference, San Francisco, CA