This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Medina and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.
Medina previously served as Dominican Secretary of State to the President from 1996 to 1999 and from 2004 to 2006, and is a member of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD). He won the May 2012 Dominican presidential election, defeating Hipolito Mejía with 51% of the votes.