Honoring Trailblazer Soror Clayton-Jeter
Dr. Helene D. Clayton-Jeter, a trailblazer and change agent with over 35 years of dedication to public service as a clinical Optometrist (O.D.), first O.D. hired as a Director in the US FDA Commissioner’s Office, first black President of the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Optometry, first woman and black Chair of the Virginia Board of Health Professions, prior college adjunct professor at New York University, current adjunct professor at Northeastern University and lecturer at Virginia Commonwealth University.
She is an innovative entrepreneur with a passion for helping others, whether raising a quarter of a million dollars for children of the working poor, as Chair of MCCP (Medical Care for Children Partnership) – a public-private partnership in her Fairfax County community, advocating for patients and physicians regarding healthcare policy and delivery, standing up for health equity and educating on health disparities, or teaching a course at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she helps first-year pre-professional health students interested in pursuing a career in one of eight professional health programs: dentistry, medicine, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and veterinary medicine explore, and develop personal and professional competency skills needed on their journey, Dr. Helene is the voice for the under-served and under-represented.
As a daughter, sister, niece, and mother of two adult children, in 2019, she founded HealthScape LifeSciences, LLC in Arlington, VA. In 2020, at the onset of COVID-19, she moved back home to Richmond, VA. The assistance of a woman videographer provider her with a tool to provide free credible information to the public via YouTube videos, with over 1k views, via the HSLS YouTube channel, LinkedIn, and HSLS web pages, entitled, “Facts over Fear” to fill-in the information/communication gaps regarding transmission, and prevention of COVID 19 during the pandemic.
Dr. Helene, is a self-described womanist, public servant and speaker, webinar host, and author of peer-reviewed articles and two books supporting the voices of all people, especially the voices of Black women. She is a contributing author of the 2020 published book, “The 9%: Black Women Leaders Tell It Like It Is.” Recently, she co-authored a book chapter entitled “Eye Don’t See Color: Experiences of Black, Latina, and Indigenous Women in Eye Care,” utilizing results from their qualitative study of Black, Latina, and Indigenous women in the eye care field.
As a member of RAC, Dr. Helene is committed to attending chapter and committee meetings, supporting initiatives, attending events, and participating in community activities as we honor the privilege of belonging to this wonderful sisterhood steeped in activism.
Occupation: Telehealth and Mobile Optometrist, College Professor, Founder and CEO HealthScape LifeSciences, LLC
Chapter Initiated: Eta Tau Chapter, Virginia Commonwealth University, Fall 1982
Chapter Committee: Economic Development Committee
