National group honors medical school professors Pennings, Lowe Clayton

The Obesity Medicine Association recently honored two professors from the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic medicine (CUSOM).

Dr. Nicholas Pennings, a professor of Family Medicine, was presented the first Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dr. Tiffany Lowe Clayton, vice chair of Family Medicine, was elevated to Fellow, an honor reserved for those who show outstanding dedication to the field of obesity medicine.

Lowe Clayton is also an assistant professor of Family Medicine and director of Clinical Site Engagement & Development.

Lowe Clayton also received the inaugural Health Equity award. It's the first time a member was recognized for outstanding achievement and dedication to promoting health equity in the field of obesity medicine.

Lowe Clayton, who has been with Campbell's med school since 2015, is a dedicated osteopathic physician who lives by the saying, "Think well, do well, and you will be well."

She, too, is an obesity medicine specialist, practicing with WakeMed as well as Campbell. An advocate of preventive care, Lowe Clayton teaches her students to understand obesity as a complex and chronic disease, training them early on to treat it as such.

"I was humbled and honored to be recognized as the initial awardee for the work that I have done over the years," Lowe Clayton says.

The OMA is committed to obesity education and is a national leader in educating clinicians in obesity medicine, says Pennings, a professor of Family Medicine at the Campbell University med school. He also is executive director of Clinical Education for the OMA and has been a member since 2012.

Pennings has called his research into the chronic and dangerous disease of obesity "a passion."

Pennings, who is board certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, said the OMA conference, held April 10-12 in San Diego, saw record attendance. He thanked the group's educational team and its leadership.

"I am so proud and excited to see how much the OMA has grown and so excited to be a part of it," Pennings posted on LinkedIn. "Thank you again for bestowing this award on me, and while it is for lifetime achievement … I want everyone to know…I'm not done yet!!!"

Campbell's med school leads the nation in obesity education, said Pennings, who has been with the med school since its inception.

"My goal was to go into teaching, to teach about nutrition and maybe have a small impact in student education," Pennings has said. "And it (has) just far exceeded my expectations."

In December 2024, the N.C. Academy of Family Physicians (NCAFP) honored Pennings with the 2024 Distinguished Family Physician Award, its most prestigious honor.

"CUSOM was the first medical school to incorporate obesity education in the country when it opened in 2013 and remains tops of all medical schools in the country in nutrition and obesity education," Pennings said.

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