Maria Portela Martinez, MD, MPH

Dr. Maria Portela Martinez is a board-certified family medicine physician with GW Medical Faculty Associates in Bethesda, MD. She cares for the whole family — from young children to older adults — and sees patients in both English and Spanish. A native of Puerto Rico, she earned her medical degree at Ponce School of Medicine, completed her family medicine residency at Duke University Medical Center, and added a Master of Public Health from Harvard with concentrations in public health leadership and health policy.

Why patients choose Dr. Portela Martinez

With more than a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Portela Martinez pairs hands-on family medicine with a long career in improving access to care. She is passionate about serving vulnerable populations, teaching, and mentorship, and was named a National Minority Quality Forum 40 Under 40 Leader in Health in 2017.

Leadership & background

At GW she serves as Chief of the Family Medicine Section in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director of the George Washington Immediate Primary Care Clinics, working to expand access to primary care across the community. She is an Assistant Professor at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, mentoring students in professional development and public health. Her earlier work includes leading primary-care training initiatives at the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), volunteer care at Unity Health Care, and an executive board role with the National Hispanic Medical Association.

Practice focus

Full-spectrum family medicine for all ages, with an emphasis on preventive and primary care and on equitable, accessible care for diverse communities.

NPI: 1447578539