Douglas R Bettarelli, MD

Douglas Bettarelli was born in Chicago, Illinois, but he has identified as a Texan for most of his life. His journey to medicine was shaped by years of real-world experience. He balanced academics with multiple jobs throughout high school and college, including nearly seven years as a restaurant server. He studied biochemistry at Baylor University, where a chance encounter during Welcome Week led to him meeting his lifelong study buddy and future wife. His early passion for neurology began after supporting a close family member’s gradual recovery from a brain injury. While at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, he was captivated by the brain’s resilience. What others often perceived as an intimidating ‘black box’ of medicine, he saw as an exciting opportunity for meaningful patient care. His lifelong goal is to make complex neurological topics more approachable for patients and future neurologists through mentorship and community outreach. He and his wife are thrilled to take routine day trips to the beaches throughout Florida and experience new, fun places. During his free time, he enjoys visiting coffee shops, practicing Spanish and coding in Python, cooking, distance running, weightlifting, and college sports.