News | 1/10/2022

Health Advances Promotes Three New Partners in Biopharma and Precision Medicine

Health Advances, a leader in commercial strategy for healthcare technology organizations, has promoted three exceptional leaders, experts in global strategy for biopharma and precision medicine companies, to Partner.

Kristen Garner Amanti, PhD joined the Health Advances team in 2010 and is a leader in the Precision Medicine and Diagnostics practice. She has deep experience in commercialization strategy, business development opportunity assessment, deal diligence, international and domestic market assessment, corporate strategy, and is a seasoned workshop facilitator. Prior to joining Health Advances, Kristen received her PhD in Cancer Pharmacology from Dartmouth College where her research focused on the development of novel targeted cancer therapeutics. She received her Masters degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and Bachelors degree in Biology from the University of Vermont.

Carrie Jones joined Health Advances in 2007 and leads the firm’s Biopharma Orphan Disease Practice. At Health Advances, Carrie works towards the advancement of novel therapeutics, drawing from experience across commercialization and development strategies and benchmarking, new product planning, and market assessment & forecasting. Prior to joining Health Advances, Carrie received her MS degree in organic chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and she worked for several years as a medicinal chemist at Merck & Co., Inc. where she developed her interests in drug discovery and development. Carrie received a BA in chemistry from Williams College.

Balazs Felcsuti has nearly 20 years of healthcare experience in corporate development, strategy, finance and operational positions. He co-leads the firm’s Biopharma Autoimmune and Metabolic Diseases Practice. Balazs joined Health Advances after a successful career with biopharma companies ranging from industry leading biotechnology firms to small start-up operations. Prior to Health Advances, Balazs held senior leadership roles at Lyndra Therapeutics, an early-stage platform technology company; led business development strategy for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals; and helped build the Patient Support Services organization at Biogen. Balazs holds a Master of Science in Economics from Corvinus University in Budapest, Hungary as well as an MBA in Finance from the Wharton of School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Health Advances Partner and Managing Director Sheela Hegde celebrated these important promotions, saying “Balazs and Carrie are valued leaders in our Biopharma Sector Practice who have developed deep expertise in critical areas for our clients worldwide. Their strategic, scientific, and commercial insights have supported critical decisions for our biopharma clients through an enormously complex period in our industry. We look forward to their continued leadership in the years to come.”

Gary Gustavsen, Partner and Managing Director, said “Kristen has played a central role in building Health Advances into one of the world’s leading Precision Medicine consulting practices. Her dedication to the success of her clients and the well-being of her teams is emblematic of the balanced approach we hold dear at Health Advances. We are thrilled to have Kristen joining the Partner team!”