NEOMED Alumna Pays Tribute to Amy Stearns Acton

As Ohio faces the COVID-19 pandemic, Amy Acton, M.D. (’90) has garnered widespread praise for her steady leadership as the director of the Ohio Department of Health. From Facebook fan clubs that have grown to nearly 100,00 members to t-shirts and chalk art created in her honor, there has been an outpouring of support from Ohioans praising Dr. Acton’s decisive action and clear communication when it is needed the most to educate and reassure Ohioans.

One of Dr. Acton’s former classmates, Tammy Huber Wilkins, M.D. (’91,) shared the following reflection on the time she spent with Dr. Acton (then, ) at NEOMED and her deep appreciation for Dr. Acton’s current work.

I remember Amy as a very kind and gentle person in the midst of a stressful and competitive time for all of us. She was often smiling and laughing when others were not. She was never judgmental or critical of others. During exam week she was down the hall from me studying, sometimes all night!

Her strategy was similar to mine: Study those class notes diligently until they are seared into your brain. Multiple colors of highlighters were vital! It was a strategy to focus on the important data in the midst of a sea of information, in which you could drown. She is now doing that for all Ohioans.

She remains a very beautiful woman and physician, on the inside and out. My family and I watch her daily news conferences with Governor DeWine (another gem) after work. I don’t remember Amy being this calm in the midst of the hurricane that was medical school exams, but she is a BEACON for me, and many, as we try to stay strong and calm in preparation for the biggest and scariest challenges of our medical careers.

I feel blessed that our paths have crossed again, Amy, and I send prayers of support and gratitude to you and everyone on the daily broadcast. I take the information back to my home hospital every day and I know that it is accurate. I am sure that everyone at NEOMED is proud and grateful. Keep rockin’ it Amy, I am one of your biggest fans!!

Tammy Huber Wilkins, M.D.
Associate Director of Behavioral Health
Trihealth Hospital Network/Good Samaritan