Dr. Donald Blair was born in southwest Pennsylvania, where he lived until age 13. After completing high school in Akron, Ohio, he earned his bachelors and medical degree at Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Following a year of internship at the University of Michigan University Hospital from 1965-1966, he accepted a commission in the United States Public Health Service. He served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia and Eritrea for two years. He then went on to serve nine additional months at the FDA in Washington, D.C., conducting human research on antibiotic availability. Following his time in D.C., Dr. Blair returned to the University of Michigan and completed his Internal Medicine residency, Infectious Diseases Fellowship and a Masters program in Clinical Pharmacology.

In July 1974, Dr. Blair joined the faculty of SUNY Upstate Medical Center (now Upstate Medical University) in Syracuse, NY. He has worn a variety of hats at the University including Infectious Disease clinician, Internal Medicine Residency Director, Chief of General Medicine, Chief of Infectious Disease, Director of Infectious Disease Fellowship, and Co-founder and Medical Director of the Designated AIDS Center (now named Immune Health Services). During his years at SUNY Upstate, Dr. Blair has been a clinical researcher working on trials with the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). He is now a sub-investigator on multiple trials for the Institute for Global Health.