This article has multiple issues. Please help
improve it or discuss these issues on the
talk page. (
Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Tzameret Fuerst | |
---|---|
Born | January 19, 1971 |
Nationality | Israeli, American |
Occupation | social entrepreneur |
Website | https://www.tzameret.com/ |
Tzameret Fuerst (born 19 January 1971) is an Israeli-American social entrepreneur. She is the co-founder [1] and former CEO of Circ MedTech, [2] developers of PrePex, a medical device for voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) of adults used in sub-Saharan Africa to prevent the spread of HIV. [3]
Fuerst had over 12 years experience in strategic marketing and business development roles in Israel and the USA before changing her career path in 2003, to become a social entrepreneur. She spent the first six years in the non-profit sector, during which Fuerst founded several advocacy and social organizations for the Israeli-American community in New York. [1] She was chairwoman and founding member of Dor Chadash, a network of Israeli and American Jews who seek to create connections with Israel and each other through cultural, educational and social events. [4] [5] In 2014, the organization was acquired by the Israeli American Council (IAC), making it part of a national movement. [6] In 2007 Fuerst, together with 92nd Street Y established Israeliness, a New York-based program helping expat children sustain their Jewish and Israeli heritage. [7]
In 2010, Fuerst became the Co-Founder and CEO of Circ MedTech, a double bottom line company that developed PrePex. [5]
During her tenure as CEO, PrePex attained WHO prequalification of Male Circumcision Devices [8] as announced by the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Eric P. Goosby, [9] gained the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, [10] [11] was referenced by Bill Gates in his Annual Philanthropy Letter, [12] was secured in pilots funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the US Government ( PEPFAR) in target sub-Saharan African countries [13] and won the Technology for Health Award by GBCHealth. [14] In 2013, Fuerst jointly announced the first commercial launch in a press conference in Rwanda alongside the Minister of Health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho. [15] [16] The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibe, mentioned PrePex as a revolution in the acceleration of HIV prevention, after visiting the Nyamata hospital in Rwanda, a site selected for a safety study of the circumcision device. [17]
Fuerst’s experience in the nonprofit social entrepreneurial sector helped attract impact investors such as Acumen (in 2011), a nonprofit global venture fund [1] [18] and BTG Pactual, a Brazilian investment bank. [19]