Family Medicine Resident Spotlight: Henry Betancourt, MD

Henry Betancourt, MD, is a resident at the CentraCare St. Cloud Family Medicine Residency Program in St. Cloud, Minnesota. We spoke with Dr. Betancourt about why he chose the program, his medical interests and what he plans to do after residency.

Why did you choose the CentraCare St. Cloud Family Medicine Residency Program? How did it align with your practice interests?

To be honest with you, it was my best interview. After I had the interview with them, out of all the places I interviewed, I thought, “that seems like a very nice program with nice people and a good culture.” I really like the system here in Minnesota. The University of Minnesota has a lot of prestige in the country.

But basically it was the quality of the interview, the attendings and the culture of the program. That's what drew me to say, “Yes, St. Cloud's going to be my first option.”

What aspects of the program do you particularly appreciate?

I appreciate the attendings and the training that we get. It's very broad since we're doing rural medicine. So you basically get trained in everything you want. The fact that we are unopposed here at CentraCare St. Cloud basically opens the door to get trained in all the procedures that you want to do. They let you do a lot of things while you're being supervised. You feel like you have the freedom to learn and do many things.

Are there any training highlights that you would like to mention?

One of the highlights of my intern year was having the opportunity to participate in an international medical mission to Guatemala with one of our attendings. It was an incredible experience. Opportunities like that are often more common during the second or third year of residency, but that's a reflection of our program's culture. I simply raised my hand and expressed my interest.

In addition to sports medicine, I've always been passionate about serving underserved communities and have a strong interest in global health. The program supported that goal, worked with my schedule, and made the experience possible. We spent a couple of weeks in Guatemala alongside physicians from Minnesota, providing medical care to communities with limited access to healthcare. It was an experience that reinforced why I chose family medicine and reminded me of the impact our profession can have beyond the clinic.

How is the program preparing you for your career goals?

Throughout residency, I've become increasingly interested in sports medicine, and my program has been very supportive of helping me explore that path. Here in St. Cloud, we have the opportunity to work with sports medicine and orthopedic physicians who are part of the University of Minnesota system, giving us excellent exposure to both primary care sports medicine and musculoskeletal medicine.

As my schedule becomes more flexible in my second and third years of residency, I have been planning and coordinating with my program to spend even more time rotating with our local sports medicine team as well as the University of Minnesota Sports Medicine Fellowship team in the Twin Cities. I recently had the opportunity to meet and work alongside many of them, and I was truly impressed by their collaborative approach, expertise and dedication to teaching. Those experiences reinforced my passion for sports medicine and have motivated me to continue growing in the field. I also hope to remain involved in global health throughout my career.

What are your plans after residency?

After residency, my goal is to pursue a sports medicine fellowship through the University of Minnesota and continue building relationships with the outstanding physicians and mentors in the Twin Cities. Opportunities such as working at events like the USA Cup have further strengthened my interest in caring for athletes and active individuals. Long term, I hope to combine family medicine and sports medicine while remaining involved in medical education, community outreach and global health.

What would you tell a prospective trainee who is considering your program?

I would tell them that this program offers an outstanding training environment. Before coming here, I had heard people describe it as a more closed program with limited diversity, but my experience has been the complete opposite. It's one of the most welcoming, supportive and diverse training environments I could have ever imagined.

The faculty genuinely care about your growth and want you to succeed. Because of the program's rural medicine focus, you gain broad clinical experience and a high volume of procedures across multiple areas. If you're looking for a residency where you'll be challenged and supported, and graduate with the confidence to practice a wide range of medicine, St. Cloud is an excellent place to train.

What do you like best about learning, living and practicing in Minnesota?

The first thing that comes to mind is the incredible quality of the people here in Minnesota. From the moment I arrived, everyone made me feel like family. There is a genuine sense of community here that I haven't experienced in many other places I've lived. That's probably what stands out to me the most.

I would also say that Minnesota has an exceptional healthcare system and outstanding educational opportunities. Sometimes I don't think people here realize what a gem they have. To me, Minnesota is truly a hidden gem, and I'm grateful that I found it.