Orlando O. Wright, PhD

Expected, MS Data Analytics

MIT SUD Ventures Fellow

PhD, Behavioral Science

MSW

I am Dr. Orlando Wright, a behavioral scientist with a Master of Social Work and a PhD in Behavioral Science. Currently pursuing an MS in Data Analytics. My work sits at the intersection of clinical practice, payment models, and technology. I focus on building practical, data-informed systems that help care teams work better, align financing with outcomes, and expand access for marginalized communities. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In addition, I serve as the program director of the Health and Recovery Practice (HARP), a Maryland Quality Innovation Program. My core interest is advancing health equity through exposomic research and the development of clinical technology solutions.

Previously, I served as the Director of Partnerships and Innovation at the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). I oversaw national partnerships with commercial and Medicaid payers, states, and other public entities. Facilitated the growth of the ASAM Criteria licensing to commercial and Medicaid payers, bringing the total lives covered to 145 million across 45 payers. I am a contributing author of the Utilization Management Chapter in the ASAM Criteria 4th edition, which organizes the field of co-occurring and substance use disorder treatment, reflecting my dedication to advancing addiction medicine and ensuring that underserved populations receive comprehensive, evidence-based care.

Notably, I played a pivotal role in facilitating large-scale systems work with six hospitals in
Montgomery County, MD, aimed at increasing community capacity and reducing the cost of care for individuals with severe mental illness. Funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), I increased capacity for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), a crisis house in collaboration with Sheppard Pratt, and optimized Outpatient Mental Health Clinics (OMHC).

Social determinants of health, exposomic, substance use disorders, mental health conditions

Wright, O., & Tisdale, W., III. (2026). Racialized and gendered narratives for middle-aged African American men as a facilitator and inhibitor for self-care norms. American Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308477 

Wright, O. (2025). Meeting the Demands of Uncertainty. The National Association of Social Workers Specialty Practice (Spring/Summer, p. 4). 

Wright, O. (2025). Ideation to Implementation: Collaborative Care and the Current Payment System. In: Colistra, A.L. (eds) Equipping the interdisciplinary workforce to treat Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-88900-4_22

Wright, O. (2024). Inspired: Creative writing for effective self-reflection during the therapeutic process. Cornwall District Publishing, Washington, D.C. 

Wright, O. (2024). The Implementation of Trauma-Informed Care with Staff. The National Association of Social Workers Specialty Practice (Fall/winter, pg. 6-7). 

Wright, O. (2023). Application of The ASAM Criteria Within Utilization Review and Management. In Waller, R.C., Boyle, M.P., Davis, S.R (4th edition.), The ASAM Criteria: Treatment Criteria for Addictive. Substance-Related, and Co-Occurring Conditions (363-377). 

Wright, O. (2018). Parenting Status Offending Youth: Parents’ Perceptions of Diversionary Services in the Juvenile Justice System. Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Publishing.

OrcID

1. National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

2. NASW Advisor to the American Medical Association RUC Committee

3. American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)

4. Board Member, Baltimore City Opioid Resition Fund