Ashanti Martinez
BHC 40 Under 40 | Class of 2026 | For the Culture
Majority Whip | Maryland House of Delegates | Prince George’s County, MD
Ashanti Martinez is a Maryland State Delegate representing District 22 in Prince George’s County and currently serves as House Majority Whip. A proud Afro-Latino and Howard University alum, he has built his leadership at the intersection of public policy, public health, and community advocacy.
His legislative work focuses on expanding healthcare access, protecting vulnerable communities, and advancing economic opportunity. He is known for a collaborative approach that brings stakeholders together while staying grounded in the needs of the communities he represents.
The Journey
Martinez’s path into healthcare policy was shaped by what he witnessed growing up in Prince George’s County.
"I saw families navigating a system that too often left them behind."
Those early observations shaped how he understands healthcare today. For him, healthcare is not only about services or systems. It is about dignity, access, and justice.
That perspective continues to guide his work, pushing him to focus on solutions that are not only effective, but equitable and rooted in the realities of the communities they are meant to serve.
What This Recognition Means
For Martinez, this recognition reflects more than personal achievement.
It represents the communities he serves and the responsibility that comes with representing them. He sees it as an affirmation that the work to expand access and advance equity is making a difference, while also reinforcing the need to continue pushing forward.
The honor is both recognition and reminder. The work is not finished.
What’s Next
Martinez’s current focus is on expanding access to PrEP and strengthening preventive care systems, particularly for communities most impacted by HIV.
His work centers on advancing policies that remove cost barriers, reduce stigma, and improve access to care. At the same time, he is strengthening partnerships with community-based providers to ensure solutions are not only passed into law, but implemented effectively on the ground.
The goal is clear. Prevention should be accessible, affirming, and integrated into everyday healthcare for the people who need it most.
"Lead with purpose and stay rooted in the communities you serve, because the best solutions come from those closest to the problem."
Martinez’s work reflects the power of policy when it is grounded in lived experience. He is helping shape a healthcare system that is not only more accessible, but more accountable to the people it serves.
Connect
Instagram: @ashantifmartinez
LinkedIn: Delegate Ashanti Martinez
TikTok: @ashantifmartinez
---
The BHC 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 honors the next generation of healthcare leaders reshaping how care is built, delivered, and experienced. Honorees will be celebrated at the Black Health Ball on June 27, 2026.