Elizabeth Garner, M.D., MPH
Elizabeth (Beth) Garner is a seasoned strategic- and business-minded pharmaceutical executive and corporate board member with a career-long focus on addressing unmet medical needs that affect women’s health and quality of life. Born and raised in Nigeria, she brings a global view to her work in both the corporate and nonprofit worlds. Most recently, Garner was chief scientific officer of Ferring Pharmaceuticals US, a mid-size global company focused on reproductive and maternal health, microbiome and gastrointestinal therapeutics and uro-oncology. From 2019-2022, she was chief medical officer (CMO) of ObsEva, a company focused on addressing unmet needs in women’s health. Prior to that, she was CMO of Agile Therapeutics, where she led the company’s clinical development, regulatory and medical affairs strategies, including designing and leading the Phase 3 SECURE trial which led to FDA approval of the Twirla contraceptive patch. Garner has also held leadership roles at Myriad Genetics, Abbott Laboratories and at Merck Research Labs where she was a key contributor on the Gardasil and Gardasil9 vaccines.
Garner is an experienced corporate board member and is currently on the board of directors of Kezar Life Sciences, which develops novel therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, Sermonix Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on targeted breast cancer therapies, and is chair of the board of NUA Surgical, a start-up company dedicated to creating innovative surgical solutions in obstetrics and gynecology. She is also the immediate past president of the American Medical Women’s Association, a professional organization whose mission is to advance women physicians, advocate for equity and ensure excellence in healthcare.
Beth received joint M.D. and MPH degrees from Harvard Medical and Public Health Schools, trained in obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women’s (BWH)/Massachusetts General Hospitals, and completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at BWH/Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Prior to transitioning into industry in 2007, she was assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, where she focused on academic clinical practice in gynecologic oncology, basic science ovarian cancer research, and teaching and mentorship of medical students, residents and fellowship trainees.
Elizabeth has extensive experience as a media spokesperson and is a frequent panelist and speaker on a range of topics including innovation and investment in women’s health, women’s leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, and diversity in clinical trials. She is an author on close to 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers and published her first essay in Harvard Medicine magazine. Garner is a 2019 and 2023 awardee of the PharmaVoice 100 Most Inspiring Individuals in the life sciences industry and was the 2022 recipient of the Woman in Science Award from the American Medical Women’s Association.
