Clayton’s interest in aviation in general and the medical aspects involved when man ventures from ground level began while in medical training.

He completed medical school at the Medical College of Virginia (Now part of Virginia Commonwealth University) in Richmond, Virginia. After internship at the Montreal General Hospital, he served in the US Naval Medical Corps in various places including Tsingtao, China, Guam, Hawaii, and Pensacola, Florida where he trained as a flight surgeon, and received fixed wing training. He eventually returned to the School of Aviation Medicine at Pensacola as an instructor.

Upon leaving the Navy, he began four additional years of postgraduate training in internal medicine and public health. That was done at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Harvard service of the Boston City Hospital, and at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. At the latter institution, he served in various capabilities from 1966-1996. The last position at the School was as visiting Scientist in the Dept. of Population Sciences and International Health.

He is certified as a specialist in preventive medicine in the subspecialty of aerospace medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialists.

His interest in aviation and in aerospace medicine includes having “Parachuting and Skydiving” published in 1965 in Journal of the American Medical Association.

Continuing interest in all aspects of aviation include being president of Balloon School of Mass. and being a FAA designated pilot examiner for Lighter-than-Air. One hundred twenty seven individuals have received hot air balloon training from Clayton. In addition, over 4600 individuals have flown with him in hot air balloons. His airman certification includes Com LTA (both hot air and gas), Com. Rotorcraft, helicopter, and Private Pilot SEL. 

Clayton has been part of the US Olympic Medical Team during several Olympiads. He flew a hot air balloon at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics and also at the Calgary Winter Olympics. He was the balloonmeister at Lake Placid. That involved supervising forty balloons at the Opening Ceremonies.

Clayton has edited nine editions of TABER’s Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary; published by F.A. Davis Co. Philadelphia.