Vestagen Technical Textiles has announced a number of additions and changes to its leadership team in order to facilitate growth and support growing adoption of the company’s exclusive Vestex protective healthcare apparel.

Barbara DeBaun, RN, MSN, CIC, has been named Consulting Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Stewart B. Davis MD, has been named Consulting Vice President of Regulatory and Medical Affairs, and Marc Lessem has joined as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Executive Chairman Dale Pfost, PhD, has assumed the additional role of Chief Executive Officer and Vestagen founder Uncas ‘Ben’ B. Favret lll has been named President.

Strategic changes

“The calibre of our new hires is a testament to the potential of Vestex technology to transform healthcare uniforms from a possible hazard into an essential part of the evidence-based infection control measures hospitals are adopting to achieve a culture of safety,” explained Dr Pfost.

“Barb DeBaun's national reputation from her three decades as a highly respected expert in quality improvement, infection prevention and patient safety will be tremendously valuable in our campaign to show how Vestex can support strategic initiatives to improve worker and patient safety, engagement and satisfaction.”

“Dr Davis' broad expertise in managing the development of novel medical devices will be very helpful as we generate additional clinical and regulatory support for Vestex,” Pfost added. “Building on the early success of the first system-wide adoption of Vestex garments at Jacksonville's Baptist Health, Marc Lessem's deep experience in overseeing the sales of novel products to healthcare institutions worldwide should enable us to develop the highly effective sales and marketing organization needed to grow the company to the next stage.”

Vestex

Vestagen's Vestex, an active barrier technology that combines fluid repellent, antimicrobial and breathability properties, is the daily-use fabric proven in a hospital setting to reduce harmful contaminants on garments.

Vestex protective uniforms are designed to increase healthcare worker and patient safety by reducing the risk that dangerous pathogens and other contaminants will be spread by workers' attire. Product lines, including lab coats, scrubs and patient apparel, are manufactured and sold directly by Vestagen, its retail partners and select distributors.

New team

Barb DeBaun is a well-known expert in infection control, patient safety and quality improvement. In addition to Vestagen, she works with Cynosure Health in the development and implementation of performance improvement initiatives for healthcare organizations. Previously, Ms DeBaun held a similar position with the Bay Area Patient Safety Collaborative and was director of patient safety and infection control at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.

Dr Stewart Davis is a physician and entrepreneur with broad experience in the clinical and regulatory development of novel medical devices. He has managed quality assurance and regulatory affairs activities at six firms, communicated extensively with the US Food & Drug Administration and European regulatory authorities, and worked on more than a dozen regulatory submissions. In addition to Vestagen, Dr Davis is currently CEO and president of Bioceptive, a developer of women's health devices.

Marc Lessem has extensive management, marketing and sales experience at leading global healthcare supply firms. Before Vestagen, he spent more than 15 years in positions of increasing responsibility at Medline Industries, the largest privately held supplier to healthcare institutions in the US. In his role as divisional Vice President, Mr Lessem oversaw marketing, operational and business development activities in infection prevention, surgical and wound care markets.

www.vestagen.com