Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Amy Acton, MD, to serve as chief of the state's health department during a press conference Feb. 26, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Three things to know about Dr. Acton:
1. Dr. Acton is from Youngstown, Ohio, and was once forced to live in a tent in the middle of winter while her family was homeless.
2. She went on to earn a medical degree from Northeastern Ohio University in Rootstown. She also hold a master's degree in public health.
3. Dr. Acton will become the first physician to be director of the office since 2014. During the press conference, she cited infant mortality and youth homelessness among the top issues she hopes to tackle in her role.
"I really approach in a very holistic way, meaning that the food we eat is our health, where we live and the zip code we're born into is our health, all the things that surround us are creating the conditions in which we can flourish in our lives," she said, according to the report.
To access the full report, click here.