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Janine Austin Clayton
Janine Austin Clayton.jpg
Born
Alma mater Johns Hopkins University (BA)
Howard University College of Medicine (MD)
Awards Dr. Nathan Davis Award (2017)
Scientific career
Fields Ophthalmology, women's health
Institutions National Institutes of Health

Janine Austin Clayton is an American eye doctor, also known as an ophthalmologist. She works at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is a big government agency that does health research. Dr. Clayton is the associate director for research on women's health there. She also leads the Office of Women's Health. Before this, she was a leader at the National Eye Institute.

Early Life and Education

Dr. Clayton grew up in Washington, D.C.. She went to a Catholic school when she was young. In 1984, she earned her first college degree. She studied natural sciences at Johns Hopkins University. While in college, she took dance classes. She also helped out at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She worked in the baby unit and for the psychology department.

Dr. Clayton then went to Howard University College of Medicine. There, she earned her medical degree. After medical school, she trained to become an eye doctor. She completed her training at the VCU Medical Center. She also did special training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. This training focused on eye conditions like cornea and external diseases. She also studied eye diseases related to the immune system at the National Eye Institute (NEI).

Her Work and Research

Before her current role, Dr. Clayton was a deputy clinical director at the NEI. In 2012, she joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She became the associate director for research on women's health. She also became the director of the Office of Research on Women's Health.

Dr. Clayton has worked hard to get more support for research. This research focuses on health issues that affect women. She created an important rule for scientists. This rule says that scientists must think about how sex affects health. This helps make research more accurate and reliable. She also helps women advance in science careers. She works with the NIH Director, Francis Collins, on this goal.

What She Studies

Dr. Clayton is a certified eye doctor. She is very interested in eye diseases caused by the body's immune system. She also studies how sex and gender affect health and disease. She has a special interest in diseases that affect the surface of the eye.

She found a new eye disease that affects young women. This disease is linked to early ovarian problems. This discovery made her even more interested in how sex and gender play a role in health. Dr. Clayton has written over 80 scientific papers and book chapters. Her research includes testing new treatments for eye diseases. She also studies new ways to use digital imaging for the front part of the eye.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Clayton has received many awards for her important work. In 2008, she got the Senior Achievement Award. This was from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She was also recognized by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in 2010. The European Uveitis Patient Interest Association gave her an award in 2010.

In 2015, she received the Lila A. Wallis Women's Health Award. This award came from the American Medical Women's Association. She also won the Wenger Award for Excellence in Public Service that year. In 2016, she received the Bernadine Healy Award. This award is for great leadership in women's health. She was also honored by Johns Hopkins University. In 2017, she was recognized by Woman's Day Red Dress Awards. She also received the Dr. Nathan Davis Awards from the American Medical Association. In 2024, she became a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Personal Life

Janine Austin Clayton met her husband, Robert Clayton, in college. They both went to Johns Hopkins University. They started dating in their sophomore year. After college, they continued a long-distance relationship. Robert Clayton is a lawyer. He started his own family law firm in Los Angeles in 2000. They got married on April 11, 2008. They live in North Potomac, Maryland.

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