New CEO Brings Vision to Global Health Nonprofit
Focusing on Resilience, Communication, and Innovation
May 19, 2026
When Cristine Betters took the helm as CEO of MCD Global Health (MCD), her journey began with a homecoming of sorts. In December 2025, a snowstorm threatened to upend her inaugural visit to Maine, but for Cristine, this was nothing new; after all, she was born during one of the biggest blizzards in rural Western New York’s history.
Braving the weather, she immersed herself in meetings with staff, partners, and board members, quickly discovering the heart of MCD: a 60-year-old organization deeply networked and widely respected across Maine. For Cristine, this experience was more than just an introduction; it underscored the power of local relationships and affirmed the enduring importance of MCD’s Maine roots, a legacy she’s determined to nurture as she leads the organization forward.
With nearly three decades of experience in global health, Cristine credits mentors for teaching her the importance of a positive organizational culture and honest, frequent communication, especially during challenging times. She believes these lessons shape her open approach and commitment to transparency with staff.
Cristine’s commitment to being accessible extends to the virtual spaces where much of MCD’s work happens. In 2026, MCD moved staff meetings from quarterly to monthly, creating more opportunities for dialogue. Staff find that she and her “pesky cat Lexie” show up together on Teams meetings consistently, without pretense, for those large groups, as well as her one-on-one weekly office hours with staff on Tuesday mornings (in both English and French).
A Changing Landscape
In 2025, the health sector saw dramatic changes. The dismantling of USAID has forced many organizations to rethink operations and funding. Historic cuts to Medicaid are likely to negatively impact rural communities. And fringe views on settled science, such as vaccinations, have become more mainstream.
Cristine’s vision for MCD is rooted in resilience. “The future is unknowable, so we need to be prepared for whatever comes our way,” reflected Cristine. For her, resilience isn’t abstract, but instead is a mindset reinforced by habits that help her lead through complex challenges with steadiness and focus. “Like when I practice classical piano or go kayaking in the backwoods, these habits help me to step back and regain perspective.”
That emphasis on preparation and clarity reflects her broader approach to leadership, shaped by practices that reward patience, attentiveness, and continual refinement. Whether it is pushing the boundaries of program innovations, recruiting and developing talented staff, or ensuring a strong financial foundation for the next five years, Cristine is a big supporter of organizational workflow improvements.
In her first 10 months, Cristine has prioritized increasing access and availability of essential information, such as timely financial data, instituting strategies and standards, recognizing that understanding budgets (along data on program effectiveness) is key to understanding how projects work, and how we can continually do better.
But it’s more than that. During an October trip to Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, she saw firsthand the many ways that MCD has improved people’s lives.
“I was prepared to be ‘wowed’ by our impactful programs and our top-notch data collection and analytical abilities. What I didn’t understand before I traveled there was the role that MCD has played in shaping careers,” she said.
For example, some Equatorial Guinea staff members started their careers at MCD as seasonal workers and grew into managers, demonstrating the organization’s emphasis on professional development.
Looking Ahead
These stories are crucial to understanding the organization’s impact beyond charts and figures. Amid the shifting landscape, Cristine believes MCD is well-positioned to adapt and succeed. “With our strong foundation, committed staff, innovative programming, and flexibility, we can diversify our funding sources and reduce our dependence on any single donor while carving out the time to pursue innovation.”
Asked what she would tell new hires, Cristine felt that, “MCD offers the chance to work at the cutting edge of public health alongside dedicated and talented colleagues. Now is the time to join us as we shape the sector’s next chapter.”
Looking ahead into the second half of 2026 and 2027, Cristine’s top priorities are clear: maintaining MCD's respectful, collaborative, and culture of innovation while safeguarding the organization’s financial health. In her first year, she aims to be known not only for vision and resilience, but for being present, approachable, and deeply invested in the people behind the work.
