We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. DJ Betancis. Check out our conversation below.
Hi DJ, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
While intelligence and energy are powerful qualities, for me, integrity is non-negotiable. Intelligence can open doors, and energy can push you through them, but without integrity, neither truly lasts. Integrity is the foundation of trust—and in my life, my practice, and my relationships, trust is everything.
In life, intelligence and energy might help you chase opportunities, but without integrity, those wins hold no meaning. No matter the circumstance, integrity is what keeps me grounded and true to who I am. In relationships, energy may get you in the room and intelligence may spark conversation, but integrity is what sustains real connection. I’ve never been one for “networking” for its own sake—my focus has always been on building and growing genuine relationships, and integrity is what allows those bonds to last. In my work, knowledge and energy are valuable, but integrity is what distinguishes and separates good from great. It’s what gives my athletes and clients confidence that, no matter what road lies ahead, I will always show up, act, and deliver in their best interest.
At the end of the day, integrity is the thread that ties it all together. It’s not about being the loudest in the room or the smartest on paper. I don’t want to be remembered for how much I knew or how hard I pushed, but for the integrity I carried—in my effort to earn true respect, build a lasting impact, and leave a legacy that outlives any achievement and can’t be questioned.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dominique “DJ” Betancis, and I’m a Pro Sports Performance Doctor of Physical Therapy distinguished for bridging the gap between rehabilitation and elite sports performance. With extensive experience across facilities and organizations, I now independently run my own private concierge practice based in Austin, Texas—working with professional athletes and high-end clientele both locally and through travel.
My work isn’t just about treating injuries—it’s about breaking the body down through thorough evaluation, identifying deficits and weaknesses, and rebuilding it optimally toward peak performance and function with the best of treatment and training. No two athletes or individuals are ever the same. Different sports, different positions, different mechanics—every body moves differently, and every body has its own demands. My specialty is recognizing those differences and tailoring my approach so each person can function and perform at their highest level.
My story is one of overcoming adversity and forging my own path to redefine and pioneer the sports physical therapy field. Against all odds, everything I’ve accomplished so far has been earned through relentless perseverance, dedication, and an absolute love for what I do. That same drive fuels my focus today: to continue growing my practice, expanding my reach, and setting a new standard for what the best of rehab, recovery, training, and performance can be.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Who I was before the world told me who to be is the same person I am today—but that hasn’t come without change. It’s taken consistent self-reflection, finding confidence in solitude, and relentlessly pushing forward through every form of adversity. Staying true to myself in a world so often defined by ego, pride, and surface-level validation has required vulnerability, discomfort, and strength. Any change I’ve made has been with purpose—whether from lessons learned or my commitment to becoming a better version of myself every single day.
Too many people avoid discomfort and looking inward when faced with adversity, choosing instead to complain about circumstances or conform to what others expect. For me, the choice has always been to grow from within first. The path of chasing success without conforming is undeniably harder, but it’s also made the journey far more meaningful.
Remaining genuine to myself—and to the values I was proudly raised with—has kept me grounded, connected me with the right people, and, most importantly, allowed me to build a life I’m not only proud of, but excited to wake up to every single day.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me everything that success never could. Every setback, every failure, every disappointment has carried a lesson that pushed me to grow, to reflect, and to refine myself. I’ve never accepted failure as final—it’s always been fuel. Success might validate you, but suffering shapes you.
What suffering gave me was perspective. It stripped away pride, ego, and comfort, and forced me to stay grounded in who I am when nothing was going right. It taught me patience, humility, and resilience in ways winning never could. Wins highlight the outcome, but it’s the suffering that built the foundation—making me strong enough to not just reach success, but to hold on to it when it comes.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
In today’s social media age, so much truth and quality gets lost in the noise of chasing clout, attention, and business. Fads are amplified by quick fixes, flashy trends, and the constant push to create the next ‘best thing.’ In a field meant to help and better people, too much has shifted toward personal gain and business over genuine care.
For me, the difference between a fad and a real foundational shift comes down to consistency and truth. Fads are shallow and temporary. Foundational shifts stand the test of time because they’re rooted in science, experience, and results. That’s why my focus has never been on chasing trends, but on becoming a better practitioner every day—learning, growing, and improving so I can help more people, and do it better.
People sometimes assume that working with professional athletes comes from luck or opportunity, but in reality, it reflects the quality of care, expertise, and results built on a strong foundation. My mission is to pioneer this space of physical therapy and sports performance—to bridge the gap between rehab and training—and to impact as many athletes and people as possible. By not getting lost in fads, I’ve been able to build something lasting, where the work and the results speak louder than any trend ever could.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I’ve come to understand deeply—through pursuing a life and vision far from my small-town and cultural norms, through building my own path as an entrepreneur, through the countless people I’ve met, and most of all through the struggles I’ve endured alone—is that every single person is different. Different upbringings, experiences, influences, and environments create entirely different perspectives—perspectives of the world, of themselves, and of themselves in the world.
In today’s culture, too many people overlook that truth. Instead of seeking to understand, the focus often shifts to fighting to be right, to feel seen, or to be validated. But if we approached one another with the awareness and empathy that everyone’s perspective is shaped uniquely, there would be far less conflict, negativity, and division.
That understanding has shaped everything for me. It’s allowed me to connect with people on deeper levels, to work and communicate effectively with anyone, and to form genuine bonds across differences. It’s also helped me grow—not just as a practitioner, leader, and coach, but as a man.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_betancis
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/dominique-dj-betancis
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dj_betancis
