Nayla Cortas
Previous Professions
Clinical Pharmacist from 2008 till 2016- Clinical department Administrator of the Radiology Department at AUBMC from 2016 till 2022 - Pharmacy Health Outcomes Manager at the Pharmacy department of AUBMC from 2022-till present
Major Achievements
"Guided by a deep passion for sport—particularly endurance and trail running—my most significant athletic achievement was setting a new record for the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) traverse from north to south. I completed the 450-kilometer route, with approximately 18,000 meters of cumulative elevation gain, in a record time of 6 days and 12 hours, surpassing the previous record held by American endurance runner Patrick Vaughn.
Through this accomplishment, I became the first woman to complete the full Lebanon Mountain Trail north–south traverse in record time. Beyond the physical challenge, this achievement represents resilience, strategic decision-making, and sustained leadership under extreme conditions. It required not only endurance, but the ability to remain focused, adapt, and lead through fatigue, uncertainty, and continuous pressure over multiple days.
This milestone carries a broader purpose: to challenge traditional perceptions of women’s limits in endurance sports and to inspire more women to pursue ambitious goals—both in athletics and beyond. By achieving this record on Lebanon’s most iconic trail, I aim to demonstrate that women can lead, perform, and excel in the most demanding environments, while serving as visible role models within the regional and international trail-running community.
While I have always been passionate about sports, I have trained consistently in running and trail running since 2017, building a journey grounded in discipline, perseverance, and a commitment to empowering others—especially women—to believe in their strength, leadership, and potential."
Field(s) of Expertise
Pharmacy
Health Management
Endurance sports
Sports Events Organization
Education
Master's Degree In Public Health (MPH), American University of Beirut
Awards
Award of Excellence the Best Poster presentation for the Final project in the Master's degree program. The Project Title: A multistakeholder vision to improve access to Innovative Oncology Drugs in Lebanon: using an evidence-based tool to guide reimbursement startegies and decision making
Community Involvement
She is a pharmacist and Pharmacy Health Outcomes Manager at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, where she contributes to advancing healthcare quality, efficiency, and sustainability. In parallel, she serves as President of 4 Seasons Mountain Trails, a non-profit association officially launched in 2022 with the mission of organizing trail and ultra-trail races across Lebanon throughout all four seasons. It's vision is to build a strong, inclusive, and environmentally responsible trail-running community while positioning Lebanon on the global map of endurance sports. To date, they have successfully organized 10 major events recognized by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), activating remote regions, supporting local economies, and promoting sustainable sports eco-tourism. She also serves on the Executive Committee of Generations Bridges, a Lebanese non-profit association dedicated to building bridges between generations through the transfer and sharing of experiences, knowledge, and skills. Within this role, she led and contributed to multiple community-based initiatives, including the organization of a multi-generational relay race at Notre Dame de Jamhour, bringing together teams composed of grandparents, parents, children, and extended family members. This initiative used sport as a unifying platform to strengthen intergenerational dialogue, foster mutual respect, promote active lifestyles across age groups, and reinforce family and community bonds, directly reflecting the mission and social impact of the organization.