About Amy

Dr. Amy Acton grew up in Youngstown, Ohio under difficult circumstances. But that made Amy tough – and now, Amy is running for governor to fight for every Ohio family that’s struggling today.

After putting herself through medical school, Amy did a residency at Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University where she trained in pediatrics and preventive medicine and created the first ever residency rotation in child advocacy. 

Amy began her career as the Director of Project L.O.V.E where she managed public private partnerships between Columbus area hospitals and key community stakeholders to keep our children healthy. Amy then joined the faculty at Ohio State University where she became an award winning professor of maternal and child health and global public health. 

Amy eventually joined the Columbus Foundation where she worked to improve the communities health and well being, particularly in the area of women’s health and youth homelessness.

In 2019 Governor DeWine asked Amy to serve in his administration as the Director of the Ohio Department of Public Health. Amy put partisanship aside to serve the people of Ohio because she’s always believed that the challenges we face don’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican, and the solutions we need take everyone rowing together.

Working closely with Governor DeWine, Amy’s widely acclaimed leadership and inspiring guidance were experienced in daily news conferences as COVID exploded in the spring of 2020, earning her a Profile in COVID Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation in 2021. In 2022 she was named Woman of the Year for Ohio by USA Today for her efforts.

Following her service in the DeWine administration, Amy returned to the Columbus Foundation and helped found the Center for Human Kindness. Firmly believing that the best way to improve outcomes is to get people with different viewpoints and from all walks of life around the table, she worked with CEO’s, Mayor’s, and community advocates to launch Rapid 5, a nonprofit to promote the region’s health and economic wellness.

Wanting to continue the bond she formed with Ohioans during the early days of Covid, Amy also partnered with WKYC on a new multi-platform series on Health, Hope & Healing–where she spoke to Ohioans about the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they’re using to move themselves forward. 

Now, Amy’s running for Governor because she refuses to look away from Ohioans who are struggling.

Amy lives in Bexley, Ohio with her husband, Eric, who has coached and taught in Bexley City Schools since 1987. Together they have six kids and enjoy traveling, exploring nature, and spending time with their good friends and growing family.