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Phone Number: (732) 235-4445
Office Location: 675 Hose Lane 6th Floor Piscataway, NJ 08854
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.
B.S., University of Connecticut
M.S., University of Connecticut
M.S., UMDNJ – SHRP
Ph.D., Concordia University Chicago
| Award | Year |
| UMDNJ-SHRP Graduate Scholarship Award | 2012 |
Health Promotion, Nutrition and Exercise, Wellness and Well-being, Active Learning
| Title | Sponsor | Effective Dates | Role |
| HEALS Academy Innovation Grant | HEALS Academy | 07/01/2026 – 08/01/2028 | Principal Investigator |
| SHP Teaching Innovation Grant | Rutgers University School of Health Professions | 6/2022-6/2025 | Principal Investigator |
| SHP Teaching Innovation Grant | Rutgers University School of Health Professions | 08/01/2020 – 08/01/2022 | Co-Investigator |
| Title | Authors | Where and When |
| Exploring People with SMI Recommendations for PA Education | Zechner MR, McQuillan MA, DiProspero E, Cimmino ML, Murphy AA, Karyczak S, Wright MJ. | J Physician Assistant Education. Accepted 6/2026, publication TBD. |
| Exercise Frequency and Intensity Do Not Predict Anxiety or Depression Symptoms in Physician Assistant Students | Wright MJ, Fritch K, Song S, Valentin VL. | J Physician Assistant Education. In press. 2026 Apr 9. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000754 |
| 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. 2025 Jun;15:1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hsr.2025.100225 |
| A Novel Flipped Nutrition Curriculum in Physician Assistant Education | Wright MJ, O’Connell CB, Tomesko J, Yeh D, Cogan-Drew T, Vidal E, Jia J. | J Physician Assistant Education. 2025 May 9;36(3):e304-e307. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000676 |
| 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 Assist Educ. 2025 Apr;36(3):e253-e261. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000673 |
| 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. |
| Nutrition Assessment: Nutrition Focused History and Physical Exam | Wright MJ | Physician Assistant Clinics. 2022 Oct;7(4):579-587 |
| 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 |
| Personality Disorders | Wright MJ., Carbajal A. | J American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2021 Oct;34(10):49-50 |
| Schizophrenia and Psychosis | Wright MJ | J American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2020 Jun;33(6):46-47 |
| Inhibiting gastric acid production does not affect intestinal calcium absorption: a randomized, crossover controlled clinical trial | Wright MJ, Caseria DM, Sullivan RR, Gaffney ED, Proctor DD, O’Brien KO, Insogna KL, Kerstetter JE. | J Bone Miner Res. 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 |