Dr. Courtney Horvath (née Kozul) is a board-certified toxicologist and drug development leader. A graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) in 2001, Courtney began her career in ballet before pursuing scientific research.

She went on to complete her PhD and postdoctoral training at Dartmouth College, where her research attracted international recognition from both the scientific community and the mainstream media.

Courtney then transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, where she has led the nonclinical development of innovative biopharmaceuticals across a wide range of therapeutic areas, modalities, and stages of development.

She is now the Global Head of Strategy, Operations and Portfolio Delivery for Translational Medicine at Novartis, where she drives key strategic initiatives and oversees a global team dedicated to advancing medicines to patients.

Over the course of her career, she has received numerous awards for her scholarship, leadership, and contributions to the field.

Courtney is also the proud mother of a pediatric cancer survivor. Her son’s journey inspired her advocacy, from delivering a TEDx talk to championing the urgent need for safer childhood cancer treatments, to leading charitable initiatives that bring joy and support to families facing critical illnesses.