(Photo Credit: Delaware House Democrats)
(Dover, DE – December 10, 2025) – The Delaware Healthcare Association today awarded House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown and Senator Marie Pinkney with the organization’s 2025 Legislator of the Year award. Presented at the 29th Delaware Healthcare Forum event “Bold Leadership in a Storm” on Wednesday, the legislators were recognized for championing Delaware hospitals and their patients and communities.
“At such an unprecedented time for healthcare, it is imperative to have strong advocates to help us weather the storm,” said Brian Frazee, President & CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. “On behalf of Delaware’s hospitals and health systems as well as the Delawareans they serve, we thank House Speaker Minor-Brown and Chairwoman Pinkney for their leadership in championing policies that will make all of us healthier and enable hospitals to continue providing high-quality, accessible care across the state. Their lived experiences in the healthcare field show the power of having frontline providers leading health policy.”
House Speaker Minor-Brown, a nurse, has led with intention and purpose, consistently fighting so that all Delawareans have access to affordable, equitable, and high-quality care. Most recently, she was a prime sponsor of Delaware’s landmark pre-authorization reform legislation (Senate Bill 12). She consistently proposes solutions that address healthcare affordability while improving health outcomes.
“It is an honor to be named Delaware Healthcare Association’s Legislator of the Year,” said House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown. “As a nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how access to high-quality healthcare leads not only to improved health outcomes but a better quality of life. When so much seems uncertain for families across our state, from increasing health insurance premiums to decreasing access to food and access to care, it’s a pivotal time to be on the frontlines of healthcare policy. Healthcare is woven into every facet of policymaking—directly or indirectly. No policy exists in isolation; every decision we make has implications for the health and well-being of our communities.”
Senator Marie Pinkney, Chair of the Senate Health and Social Services Committee, has also had an esteemed and long career in healthcare, working at a treatment center for adolescents with mental health and substance abuse issues and most recently as a social worker. This year, Senator Pinkney championed DHA-supported legislation aiming to provide sustainability for community health workers and legislation that takes the first steps toward providing health coverage for all pregnant/postpartum individuals.
“It is a privilege to move healthcare policy forward in Delaware, and I am so thrilled to receive this recognition from the Delaware Healthcare Association,” said Senator Marie Pinkney. “I believe in convening and collaborating to get things done. Recently, I hosted hearings on the impact of Medicaid changes in the First State which were eye-opening, and a testament to how little Delaware can tackle big challenges head-on. I look forward to continuing this work in 2026 and beyond.”
The DHA Legislator of the Year award recognizes an outstanding legislator – or legislators as is the case this year – who is a leader on legislation that advances the ability of Delaware Healthcare Association members to most effectively serve their patients and communities.
About the Delaware Healthcare Association
The Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) was formed in 1967 and is a statewide trade and membership services organization that represents and serves hospitals, health systems, and related healthcare organizations in their role of providing a continuum of appropriate, cost-effective, quality care to improve the health of the people of Delaware. DHA’s mission is to provide policy and advocacy leadership in creating an excellent environment to support our members in helping every Delawarean to be as healthy as they can be.