Amy Acton, MD, MPH

Amy Acton, MD, MPH, was appointed director of health for the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) by Governor Mike DeWine in February 2019. A licensed physician in preventive medicine with a master’s degree in public health, Dr. Acton has more than 30 years of experience in medical practice, government and community service, healthcare policy and advocacy, academic and nonprofit administration, consulting, teaching, and data analysis. 

Dr. Acton came to ODH from The Columbus Foundation where she served as community research and grants management officer and focused on community leadership and non-profit effectiveness. Prior to joining The Columbus Foundation, she served as assistant professor-practice at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Public Health. She also previously served as visiting faculty professor at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, adjunct professor at the OSU College of Medicine and Public Health, and director of Project L.O.V.E. (Love Our Kids, Vaccinate Early) in Columbus. 

Dr. Acton earned her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and completed her internship and residency training in pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. She also completed residency training in preventive medicine at OSU where she earned her master’s degree in public health. As part of her residency training at OSU, Dr. Acton served at ODH from 1995-96 in what was then known as the Division of Family and Community Health.