Executive Director & Head, Global Advocacy
Bristol Myers Squibb

In her current role, Cathy heads global advocacy at BMS, developing and advocating company positions on priority issues to maximize patient access and promote a strong climate of biopharmaceutical innovation, as well as working with advocacy organizations and other key stakeholders about the value of innovative medicines.

Cathy also leads the BMS Global Advocacy Digital Health initiative, focused on engaging with advocacy organizations to explore FDA patient-focused drug development guidance (21st Century Cures) and other guidance (EMA, HTA) on patient experience data through social media data and companion DH technology partnerships; driving internal and external assessments of early patient engagement to develop strategy; creating an end to end, comprehensive, expert patient engagement process for inclusiveness across the entire BMS continuum.

Ms. Trzaskawka started her career in the New Jersey State House as a communications specialist working with the Assembly Health & Human Services Committee, among others, before moving onto Governor Christie Todd Whitman’s team as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. From the State House, Cathy continued on as a community affairs lobbyist, to corporate affairs, then took an incredible opportunity as Executive Director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, SNJ. Her move into pharmaceuticals came from her advocacy and patient education work at LLS. She has held several senior positions at pharmaceutical companies including GSK, Endo, and now BMS.

Cathy has an excellent track record of utilizing optimism and strong personal beliefs to overcome social and business challenges, and mobilizing people around a higher purpose, while committed to corporate social responsibility. She currently lives in Medford, NJ with her husband Ed and three children.