Team Spotlight:
Joel Betz, MD, FACEP
Emergency Care Partners (ECP) and Canyon State Emergency Partners (CSEP) are honored to recognize Dr. Joel Betz, MD, FACEP, for his exceptional leadership and lasting impact on emergency medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Betz has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advancing patient care and supporting teams when it matters most.
Dr. Betz completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at Arizona State University before earning his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Maricopa Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident and engaged deeply in trauma leadership and graduate medical education governance. Board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Betz has also contributed to the broader medical field through research and national discourse. His published insights on emergency department efficiency and patient flow have been featured in prominent industry outlets such as Modern Healthcare and AHC Media, solidifying his reputation as a leader who not only practices medicine but actively shapes its future through innovation and advocacy.
Clinical Leadership Experience in Emergency Medicine
Dr. Betz is a seasoned emergency medicine expert with over 15 years of experience spanning clinical care, medical directorship, and regional health system leadership. Since 2009, he has maintained a continuous presence as an attending emergency physician, balancing clinical work with administrative responsibilities. Currently, he serves as the Regional Medical Officer for Cannon State Emergency Partners at Common Spirit/Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital and provides strategic oversight for 14 emergency departments in and around the Phoenix market. Since stepping into this leadership role in 2020, Dr. Betz has been a driving force in advancing operational performance, enhancing clinical quality, and fostering stronger physician–hospital alignment to ensure high-quality care across the region.
His leadership portfolio is extensive, reflecting a career-long commitment to improving hospital governance and specialized medical oversight. At Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital, he serves as Vice President of the Medical Executive Committee and is an active member of the hospital’s Executive Leadership Team, Quality Council, Pharmacy & Therapeutics, and Stroke Committees. Prior to joining Canyon State Emergency Physicians, Dr. Betz honed his leadership skills in multiple roles within Adeptus Health and Banner Health. This included serving as the Facility Medical Director at many sites and serving as the Base Hospital Medical Director for several regional fire departments. These diverse experiences have provided him with a unique perspective on managing complex medical teams and navigating the intersection of emergency services and community health.
Interview with Dr. Gaddis
Q: When did you decide to become a physician?
Somewhere between realizing I liked science… and realizing I really liked talking to people in stressful situations. It wasn’t until my third year in undergrad that I decided that it was a good fit. I was working on the donor network team, and an EMT which gave me exposure to see the ER. Emergency medicine just felt like the perfect mix of both organized chaos with a purpose.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with CSEP and ECP?
The people. We’ve built a culture where you actually enjoy showing up to work; the teams are strong and patient, and that’s not something you can fake in emergency medicine. I’ve also really enjoyed our education program over the last few years.
Q: What do you find most exciting about your job?
What I enjoy most about my job is helping to support either patients and families, or our teams themselves. When I’m able to support our docs, APP ‘s or other staff, whether it be education resources, etc., that brings me great satisfaction and purpose.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
Triathlon (look for me towards the guy, cleaning up the cones at the end of the race), surfing when I can, and spending time with family. Anything that gets me outside and away from a computer screen and closer to a beach.
About Canyon State Emergency Partners (CSEP):
Founded in 2019, Canyon State Emergency Partners (CSEP) is a physician-led Emergency Medicine group serving the Common Spirit/Dignity Health System in the Phoenix market. CSEP offers clinicians diverse clinical settings, strong local leadership, and a dynamic professional environment, all within a region known for its outstanding quality of life, year-round outdoor recreation, and vibrant cultural scene.
About Emergency Care Partners (ECP):
Headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, ECP is the largest single specialty provider of emergency medicine in the United States. With client partners in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Vermont, ECP currently treats more than 1,700,000 patient visits annually at 66 sites of service. ECP supports a clinical workforce of 1000+ physicians and mid-level providers. The company employs a differentiated model relative to other platforms in the industry, highlighted by the ability to maintain ownership through its physician partnership model with regional/local groups to maintain their brand and clinical autonomy while benefitting from ECP’s resources. For more information, please visit www.ecp.net.