Amy Acton, RAPID 5, Bio, Age, Education, Children, salary and Net Worth
Amy Acton – Biography and Wikipedia
Amy Acton is an American physician and public health researcher who served as Director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 to 2020, where she played a key leadership role in the state’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, Acton was appointed President and CEO of RAPID 5, a nonprofit organization focused on expanding public access to parks and natural spaces in Franklin County, part of the greater Columbus, Ohio area. She stepped down from that role in May 2023.
During the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Acton publicly expressed her interest in running for governor of Ohio. On January 7, 2025, she officially announced her candidacy for the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election, filing the necessary paperwork earlier that day. Acton is running as a Democrat.
Education
Dr. Acton earned her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine. She completed her internship and pediatric residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She also completed a preventive medicine residency at The Ohio State University (OSU), where she earned a Master of Public Health (MPH). During her residency, she worked at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) from 1995 to 1996 in what was then the Division of Family and Community Health.
Amy Acton Age and Birthday
As of 2025, Dr. Amy Acton is 59 years old. She was born Amy Leigh Acton in 1966 in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. Her exact birthdate has not been publicly disclosed.
Family Background – Parents and Siblings
Dr. Acton’s early life was marked by instability. Her parents met at a party while attending Youngstown State University and separated when she was just three years old. Raised primarily by her mother, Amy experienced frequent moves and periods of poverty and neglect. Her mother had multiple relationships, and during a tumultuous period in California, Amy and her siblings were sent back alone by bus to live with relatives. Between the ages of 9 and 12, she was abused by one of her mother’s partners, who was later prosecuted. Eventually, she was able to move in with her father, Jerry, who passed away a few years ago. Amy has a brother who now resides in Colorado.
Amy Acton Husband
Dr. Acton was first married to Douglas Beech, with whom she had three children. The couple later divorced. In 2010, she married Eric Acton, a middle school teacher and track coach.
Children
Dr. Amy Acton is a proud mother of six children—three from her first marriage to Douglas Beech and three with her second husband, Eric Acton.
RAPID 5 (2022-2023)
In May 2022, Dr. Acton was appointed the Director of RAPID 5. The nonprofit organization seeks to create a cohesive, accessible system of parks and trails along Franklin County’s five major waterways: the Big Darby Creek, Scioto River, Olentangy River, Alum Creek, and Big Walnut Creek. The acronym “RAPID” stands for River And Parks + Imagination + Design, and the initiative aims to enhance public health, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
However, She stepped down from that role in May 2023.
Why Dr. Amy Acton Resigned as Ohio Health Director
Dr. Acton resigned from her role as Ohio Health Director on June 11, 2020, amid intense public scrutiny and political pressure. Although widely praised for her steady and science-based leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, she also faced backlash from some lawmakers and segments of the public over stay-at-home orders and lockdown measures. Governor Mike DeWine announced her resignation during a daily coronavirus briefing. Although she stepped down from her directorial role, Dr. Acton remained a chief health adviser to the administration, continuing to work on COVID-19-related issues.
Ohio Department of Health – Career Overview
Dr. Acton was appointed Director of the Ohio Department of Health in February 2019 by Governor Mike DeWine. She brought more than 30 years of experience across clinical medicine, public health, academia, community advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. Before joining ODH, Dr. Acton worked at The Columbus Foundation as a community research and grant-making official, focusing on public health and nonprofit effectiveness.
Her previous roles included:
Assistant Professor of Practice at The Ohio State University College of Public Health
Faculty educator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and OSU College of Medicine
Director of Project L.O.V.E. (Love Our Kids, Vaccinate Early), a Columbus-based vaccine initiative
Consultant and policy advocate in health equity and children’s wellness
At ODH, she helped guide Ohio’s early response to the pandemic and became a trusted figure during DeWine’s widely watched press briefings.
Amy Acton Salary
As Director of RAPID 5, Dr. Acton earned an estimated annual salary of $250,000, reflecting her extensive experience and leadership in public health and nonprofit management.
Net Worth
Dr. Amy Acton has an estimated net worth between $1 million and $3 million, accrued through decades of work in medicine, public health leadership, academia, and nonprofit service.
