Faculty and Staff
William Wright, Ph.D.
| Title: | Associate Professor |
| Biomedical Sciences | |
| School of Medicine Greenville | |
| E-mail: | wrigh288@greenvillemed.sc.edu |
| Phone: | 864-766-2095 |
| Office: | 701 Grove Road Greenville SC 29605 |
Bio
| Background: | Dr. Wright earned a B.S.Ed. in Health/Fitness and an M.S.Ed. in Exercise Physiology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana where he worked in the lab of Dr. Norman Harris investigating the role of thromboxane in the development of hypoxia in the diabetic retina. Dr. Wright continued this research as a postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Wright then accepted a faculty position at the University of South Carolina Upstate as an assistant professor teaching human anatomy and physiology. Dr. Wright then joined the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville as a founding faculty member were he has served as Year 1 Academic Director and Module Director for the module Structure and Function of the Human Body. In addition to his roles as a clinical associate professor, he is the Director of Assessment for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. In his spare time he enjoys golfing, baking, traveling, and spending time with his wife and two children. |
| Teaching Interest(s): | I have always had a desire and passion for teaching. I consider it a privilege to be one piece of the puzzle in the education of future physicians and scholars. My current areas of teaching are cellular, cardiovascular, and respiratory physiology. |
| Research Interest(s): | My primary research interest is to determine mechanisms of dysfunction that occur early in the diabetic retina which lead to the development of diabetic retinopathy. Inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and reactive oxygen species are potential mechanisms that lead to the upregulation of new blood vessels that develop on the surface of the retina leading to blindness for many who are affected. Specifically, I am interested in inflammatory mediators that modify vascular endothelial cell function and results in altered blood flow to the retina. New areas of research for me are assessment practices and curricular design in medical education. |
| Honors & Awards: | Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society Dean's Award Outstanding Service Award Outstanding Teacher Award |
| Professional Affiliations: | The Association for Medical Education in Europe Member The American Physiological Society Member The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Member National Strength and Conditioning Association Member The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Other - Student Member The American Physiological Society Other - Student Member |