Influential Woman · Philanthropy & Fundraising | Patient Advocacy
Cynthia Horvath Garbutt
NIH Patient Representative for RECOVER, NIH RECOVER Patient Representative
Chicago, IL 60640
Her Story
About Cynthia
Cynthia Horvath Garbutt is a philanthropy and healthcare advocacy professional with more than 15 years of experience in fundraising, global health, humanitarian initiatives, and patient advocacy. She currently serves as a Patient Representative for the National Institutes for Health’s RECOVER initiative. Cynthia has built her career around connecting philanthropic resources with meaningful healthcare and community initiatives. Her work has included fundraising for global health and primary care education, major-gift development, donor engagement, and collaborative efforts designed to strengthen healthcare systems and improve access to resources. Garbutt began her philanthropy career around 2008 as a volunteer fundraiser supporting and promoting educational programs in global health and primary care for medical students. Her legal background, including a doctorate in law and experience in arbitration and mediation, provided a strong foundation for her transition into philanthropy and complex stakeholder engagement. She later progressed through roles including Major Gift Officer and Executive Director and played a leadership role in establishing an institute for global health through collaboration with physicians and healthcare leaders. Since 2020, her professional focus has increasingly incorporated patient advocacy, including serving as an official patient representative for the NIH RECOVER Initiative. Today, Garbutt is particularly focused on increasing awareness of chronic conditions associated with viral illness and advocating for a national network of centers capable of supporting patients with post-viral conditions. She combines her experience in philanthropy, global health, and healthcare advocacy to help advance awareness, funding, and collaboration around complex medical challenges. Guided by perseverance, mentorship, respect, truth, teamwork, excellence, and joy, Cynthia remains committed to meaningful work that strengthens healthcare systems while giving patients, physician scientists and clinical care providers support through transformative philanthropy.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cynthia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute much of my success to the visionary physicians and leaders I had the opportunity to work with, particularly those who recognized the importance of primary care and global health before those areas received widespread attention. Their vision and commitment showed me the power of thinking ahead and pursuing meaningful change. Working alongside people with that kind of purpose helped shape my own approach to philanthropy and advocacy. Their example continues to influence the way I approach complex healthcare challenges.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The most important lesson I have learned throughout my career is the importance of perseverance. My varied career experiences and my own prolonged illness have given me considerable time to reflect on what makes work meaningful and sustainable. I believe in finding something that is meaningful to you, something you can do well, and then having the perseverance to continue through challenges. Success does not always come quickly, so staying committed to meaningful work is essential.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to find a mentor in their field whom they genuinely respect and enjoy working with. Be willing to volunteer, assist others, and learn as much as possible from the people around you while also contributing your own skills and perspective. Mentorship should be a two-way relationship in which you learn from experienced professionals while discovering and demonstrating your own strengths. Being curious, helpful, and open to learning can create opportunities that may not be obvious at first.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities is building awareness around the need for a national network of centers focused on chronic conditions associated with viral illness and post-viral disease. A major challenge is identifying and engaging donors who understand the importance of investing in these types of long-term healthcare initiatives. There is also the personal challenge of sustaining the energy required to advocate effectively while managing a condition that affects multiple systems of the body. The work requires both persistence and thoughtful pacing.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are respect, belonging, truth, teamwork, boldness, responsibility, substance, discipline, excellence, and joy. These principles guide how I work with colleagues, donors, healthcare professionals, and the communities I serve. I believe meaningful work requires both integrity and courage, along with a commitment to doing work of real substance. I also believe that joy matters because even difficult and serious work should leave room for humanity, connection, and purpose.
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