NeoGenomics Taps AI Veteran for Board, Signaling Data-Driven Future

FORT MYERS, FL – June 25, 2026 – In a move that underscores the growing fusion of data science and molecular diagnostics, NeoGenomics, Inc. has appointed Carolyn Starrett, a seasoned leader in healthcare technology and artificial intelligence, to its Board of Directors. The appointment is a clear signal of the company's strategic intent to deepen its investment in AI and real-world data to sharpen the cutting edge of precision oncology.

Ms. Starrett, the former CEO of real-world data powerhouse Flatiron Health, brings a formidable track record of leveraging large-scale data to transform cancer care. Her appointment comes as NeoGenomics, a leader in oncology testing, seeks to fortify its position in a market increasingly defined by data-driven insights.

“We are very excited to welcome Carolyn to the NeoGenomics board,” said Lynn Tetrault, Chair of the Board. “Carolyn’s experience using real-world data and analytics to help accelerate improvements in cancer care and treatment will serve us well as we continue to expand our portfolio and impact for cancer patients.”

Starrett’s own statement echoed this sentiment, highlighting the convergence of diagnostics and artificial intelligence as a pivotal opportunity. “Neo’s growing portfolio of oncology diagnostics – paired with the new possibilities and insights enabled by AI – creates a real opportunity to improve cancer care for patients,” she noted, expressing her eagerness to contribute to the company's “next phase of innovation.”

A Proven Leader in Real-World Evidence

To understand the significance of this appointment, one must look at Carolyn Starrett’s decade-long tenure at Flatiron Health. From 2016 to 2026, culminating in her role as CEO from 2021 to 2025, she was instrumental in building one of the most important companies at the intersection of data and oncology. Flatiron specializes in curating high-quality electronic health record data into research-grade evidence to accelerate cancer research and improve patient care.

Under her leadership, Flatiron’s real-world data platform, “Flatiron Horizon,” expanded its reach exponentially, growing from covering 400,000 patient lives to over 5.5 million. She also oversaw the growth of its OncoEMR®, a leading electronic health record system now used by thousands of providers. This wasn’t just about collecting data; it was about making unstructured, chaotic clinical information usable for life-saving research. Her team pioneered the use of machine learning and, more recently, generative AI to extract complex clinical details, such as cancer progression events, with an accuracy rivaling human experts.

This background makes her uniquely qualified to guide a diagnostics company like NeoGenomics. While diagnostics provide the initial data point—the genetic makeup of a tumor—real-world data provides the longitudinal context: how patients with that specific genetic profile respond to different treatments over time. Fusing these two worlds is the holy grail of precision medicine, and Starrett has spent the last decade building the bridge.

Bolstering an Evolving AI Strategy

Starrett is not joining a company starting from scratch. NeoGenomics has already laid significant groundwork for a data-centric future. The company has been actively building out its oncology data solutions, partnering with pharmaceutical firms to provide real-world evidence and genomic insights that inform drug development and commercialization strategies.

Earlier this year, in a critical move to streamline data flow, NeoGenomics announced the integration of its comprehensive cancer testing portfolio with Epic Aura. This allows physicians to order complex genomic tests and receive results directly within their existing electronic health record workflow, a crucial step in reducing friction and accelerating the adoption of personalized medicine. Company executives have projected this integration could boost test adoption by 20-30% per site, demonstrating the powerful link between digital infrastructure and clinical practice.

Furthermore, the company has publicly identified AI-enabled digital pathology as a key area for enhancing diagnostic screening and workflow efficiency. Starrett’s appointment provides the board-level expertise needed to accelerate these initiatives, ensuring that investments are strategically sound and clinically impactful. Her experience at Flatiron, which partnered with diagnostics firms like Foundation Medicine during her tenure, gives her a deep understanding of how to build the technological and business frameworks required for success.

Navigating a Booming and Complex Market

The strategic rationale for this appointment becomes even clearer when viewed against the backdrop of the broader market. The global AI in oncology market is exploding, with some analysts forecasting it to grow from around $6 billion in 2025 to nearly $40 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate of over 24%. This growth is fueled by the urgent need for more accurate diagnostics, personalized treatments, and efficient drug development pipelines in the face of rising cancer rates.

Companies across the healthcare spectrum, from tech giants like NVIDIA and Oracle to specialized firms like PathAI and Tempus, are racing to capitalize on this trend. However, the path is fraught with challenges. The real-world data that fuels AI models is often messy and incomplete, and models trained on biased data can perpetuate healthcare inequities. Moreover, the “black box” nature of some AI algorithms poses challenges for clinical validation and regulatory approval, and seamless integration into clinical workflows remains a significant hurdle.

This is where strategic leadership becomes paramount. Having a director who has navigated these specific challenges at the highest level provides NeoGenomics with a distinct advantage. Starrett’s experience in building frameworks for validating AI-extracted data and her deep understanding of the ethical and practical complexities of deploying these technologies in a clinical setting will be invaluable as the company deepens its commitment to AI.

The Boardroom as a Strategic Compass

With Starrett’s appointment, the NeoGenomics board now comprises ten members, each bringing a specific set of skills. This move is a textbook example of modern corporate governance, where board composition is actively managed not just for oversight, but as a strategic tool to guide a company’s evolution. By adding a director with world-class expertise in AI and real-world data, the board is ensuring it has the internal knowledge to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and steer the company through a period of profound technological change.

As NeoGenomics continues to expand its diagnostic portfolio, particularly in high-growth areas like liquid biopsy and molecular residual disease monitoring, the ability to generate and interpret vast amounts of data will be its primary competitive differentiator. This appointment demonstrates that the company's leadership understands that the future of cancer diagnostics is not just in the lab, but in the algorithm.