Meet the Candidate: Dr. Rachael Morocco

My name is Dr. Rachael Morocco. I am a pediatrician, college professor, and mother of two young boys. I am proud to be running for Ohio State Representative in District 67.

I was born and raised in the Cleveland area by two hard-working parents. My mother was a nurse, before becoming a social worker, and my father was a small business owner and local mayor.

I attended Mt. Union College for my undergraduate degree in Biology and then obtained my medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. I met my husband, Frank, in college and we married in 2007. I completed my residency at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. My husband and I moved to central Ohio in 2011 where I began working for Nationwide Children’s Hospital and have been there for the last nine years. I am also now a professor at the Ohio State University teaching in the medical school.

I have spent my career developing relationships with my patients and their families and helping them find solutions to the struggles they face. Over the years, I have encountered problems that, as a physician in a clinic setting, I couldn’t fix. Issues with health care, the education system, affordable childcare, and the opioid crisis, to name a few. I realized I needed to do more to advocate for the children I see in the clinic.

I started volunteering with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense and became the lead of the BeSmart Program. This is a community-based education program that focuses on gun safety with the intent of reducing unintentional shootings in children. During that time, I also started spending more time in the statehouse advocating for gun laws. I realized that many of the issues that I was seeing in the clinic, that impacted so many lives, were not being focused on at the statehouse. I knew that I needed to do more and decided to run for office.

I also have a child with special needs. My oldest son was diagnosed with autism at age 5. Through the journey to his diagnosis, I had a chance to see firsthand the struggle of navigating through both the healthcare and education system. My son has taught me so much, about strength, resiliency and about becoming someone’s voice. I want a better future for him and for all the children I work with, and that is why I am running.

I will be a representative that listens to the needs of the people of District 67 and work towards finding evidence-based solutions that provide more educational and economic opportunities, safe and healthy communities, and the best quality of life for your children, your families, and mine. There has never been a more important time to have a doctor in the Statehouse, and I would be honored to serve you as your next State Representative.

Please visit my website rachaelmorocco.com, follow our campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and get involved to help us win in November!