Ohio Director of Health Wins Spirit of Columbus Award

Amy Stearns Acton, M.D., the director of the Ohio Department of Health and a 1990 graduate of the Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine, is the 2020 recipient of The Spirit of Columbus Award, presented by The Columbus Foundation.

Douglas Kridler, president and CEO of the foundation, said, “The heroism shown by our first responders during this time fills us with pride and reminds us of the strength of our community. There could be no better representative of our medical professionals’ hard work, grit, and commitment to community than Dr. Acton. We know firsthand how dedicated to her work and passionate she is about our residents’ well-being.”

In Dr. Acton’s honor, the foundation announced that it will make a $50,000 grant to Star House, which it describes as “a social service organization that operates a drop-in center for youth experiencing homelessness and provides immediate access to basic needs and connections to stabilizing resources.

Dr. Acton previously served as a community research and grants management officer at The Columbus Foundation.