Don J. Wright

Donald John Wright is an American physician, government official, and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Tanzania between 2020 and 2023.

Wright served as Acting United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for twelve days in 2017. He was designated by President Donald Trump after his predecessor, Tom Price, resigned on September 29, 2017, amid a charter-flight scandal. Wright was replaced as acting secretary by newly confirmed Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan on October 10, 2017.

Education Wright received his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University and his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his family medicine residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. In addition to his medical degree, he holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Career After completing his residency, Wright worked for 15 years in the private sector, maintaining an extensive clinical and consulting practice in Central Texas. He continued in those positions after being replaced as acting Secretary of HHS. Wright was sworn in on April 2, 2020, but did not present his credentials to President John Pombe Magufuli in Dar es Salaam until August 2, 2020.