DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
MEET DR. CJ
Dr. Clayton-Jones: Dr. Dora Clayton-Jones is an associate professor at Marquette University in the College of Nursing and an adjunct faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. She earned her PhD and MS in nursing from Marquette University and her BSN from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A scientist and trailblazer in pediatric nursing, her research focuses on advancing health equity for adolescents and young adults living with sickle cell disease (SCD), particularly through community-based, participatory methods. Dr. Clayton-Jones’s areas of interest include health equity, chronic disease self-management, spirituality, and qualitative research methods.
She is a passionate advocate for SCD patients and has led a groundbreaking community-based project aimed at helping adolescents and young adults manage SCD. This initiative is the first of its kind at local, regional, and national levels, addressing health disparities and supporting self-management through a collaborative, community-engaged approach.
Dr. Clayton-Jones founded the Midwest Sickle Cell Nurse Research Consortium, uniting aspiring sickle cell nurse researchers and creating a bridge for undergraduate and graduate students. She is the founder and director of Dr. CJ’s IMPACT Research Lab, which focuses on Innovative Methods for Promoting Action, Community, and Transformation. She has onboarded several to this team of researchers.
Beyond her academic work, Dr. Clayton-Jones serves on various boards, including the International Association of Sickle Cell Nurses and Professional Associates and Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. She is also a Betty Irene Moore Fellow for Nurse Leaders and Innovators and a National Black Nurses Association Leadership Fellow.
Dr. Clayton-Jones is Co-Founder of The Gladys Street Foundation, Incorporated, with a mission to inspire young adults living with SCD. The foundation provides scholarships that support their academic goals, foster resilience, and open pathways to a brighter future.