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Matthew Wright, Ph.D.

Matthew Wright, Ph.D.

Matthew Wright, Ph.D.

In The News...

Title:

Assistant Professor

Department:

Physician Assistant Studies and Practice

Program:

Physician Assistant

Phone Number: (732) 235-4445

Office Location: 675 Hose Lane 6th Floor Piscataway, NJ 08854

About

Dr. Wright received his undergraduate degree in dietetics in 2006 and a master of science in allied health in 2008 from the University of Connecticut. Before attending the UMDNJ (now Rutgers) physician assistant (PA) program, he worked clinically as a dietitian. He is a graduate of the UMDNJ PA class of 2013.

Dr. Wright has worked in urgent care, internal medicine, and family medicine, providing nutrition and medical care. In 2016, he joined the Rutgers physician assistant program faculty while continuing to practice clinically on a part-time basis.

Dr. Wright’s teaching responsibilities include a variety of medicine and clinical nutrition lectures, coordinating the behavioral health, pediatrics, and women’s health curriculum, and small group facilitation in skills of patient assessment. He completed his Ph.D. in health and human performance in 2023. His dissertation examined the effects of exercise and self-efficacy on symptoms of anxiety and depression among PA students.

Education

B.S.,  University of Connecticut
M.S.,  University of Connecticut
M.S.,  UMDNJ – SHRP
Ph.D.,  Concordia University Chicago

Professional Achievements

 

Award Year
UMDNJ-SHRP Graduate Scholarship Award 2012

Research Interests

Health Promotion, Nutrition and Exercise, Exercise and Cognitive performance, Active Learning

 

 

Title Sponsor Effective Dates Role
SHP Teaching Innovation Grant Rutgers University School of Health Professions 6/2022-6/2025 Principal Investigator

Publications

 

Title Authors Where and When
Nutrition Food Policy Guidelines – What Should Patients Eat? McReynolds J, Roche N, Wright MJ Physician Assistant Clinics. 2022 Jan;7(1):191-199
Utilization of a Flipped Classroom Improves Exam Performance Compared to Traditional Lecture Wright MJ, Jia Y, Vidal E, Palfreyman L, O’Connell CB, Parrot J. J Physician Assistant Education. 2021 Dec;32(4):261-264
Schizophrenia and Psychosis Wright MJ J American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2020 Jun; 33(6):46-47
Personality Disorders Wright MJ., Carbajal A. J American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2021 Oct;34(10):49-50
Inhibiting gastric acid production does not affect intestinal calcium absorption: a randomized, crossover controlled clinical trial Wright MJ, Proctor DD, Insogna KL, Kerstetter JE Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2010 Oct; 25 (10): 2205 – 11
Proton Pump Inhibiting Drugs, Calcium Homeostasis and Bone Health Wright MJ, Proctor DD, Insogna KL, Kerstetter JE. Nutrition Reviews. 2008 Feb; (2): 103 – 108
Nutrition Assessment: Nutrition Focused History and Physical Exam Wright MJ Physician Assistant Clinics. 2022 Oct; 7(4):579-587
Physician Assistant Student Attitudes About People With Serious Mental Illness McQuillan MA, Wright MJ, Zechner MR, Di Prospero E, Karyczak S, Cimmino M, Murphy AA J Physician Assistant Education. 2024 Jun; 35(2):129-135.
Association between Physician Assistant Program Characteristics and Student Diversity White RD, Coplan B, Quincy B, Banning A, Gillette C, Wright MJ, Toussaint M, Multak N, Warner M. J Physician Assistant Education, 2025, In press.
Exercise, Anxiety, And Depression: A Theory Analysis and Evidence Synthesis of the Exercise and Self-Esteem Model For Health Professions Students Wright MJ, Valentine VL. Health Sciences Review, 4/2025. In Press.
A Novel Flipped Nutrition Curriculum in Physician Assistant Education. Wright MJ, O’Connell CB, Tomesko J, Yeh D, Cogan-Drew T, Vidal E, Gia J. J Physician Assistant Education. 4/2025, In press.