Brings background in data, AI, and analytics to help guide research collaboration and improved patient outcomes 

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2024 —  GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) announced that the organization elected Fern Halper, Ph.D. to its board of directors. Halper is vice president and senior director of TDWI Research for advanced analytics. She has more than 20 years of experience in data analysis, predictive modeling, business analytics, and strategy development. Halper specializes in the technology areas of business intelligence, machine learning, AI, cloud computing, and data management.  

Before joining TDWI, Halper was a partner at Hurwitz & Associates, a consulting and industry analyst firm where she focused on the areas of analytics and cloud computing. Her past also includes key positions at AT&T, Lucent Technologies, and Bell Laboratories.  

“We are delighted to have Fern’s extensive experience, knowledge, and passion for data and analytics to help guide research collaboration on lung cancer,” said GO2’s President and CEO Laurie Ambrose. “She will provide valuable input into our strategy and approach in using data-driven models and AI.” 

Halper is excited to bring her background experience to GO2 where she can provide valuable insights on how researchers can collaborate and find patterns in data to improve lung cancer patients’ outcomes.  

“Healthcare historically has lagged behind other industries in using data and analytics,” Halper said. “This is an exciting time in healthcare. The industry is using AI and advanced algorithms to identify diseases in new and meaningful ways.” 

Halper has personal experience with lung cancer as both of her parents died from the disease. Through this, she has also experienced the stigma of lung cancer firsthand. While her father was a smoker, her mother quit smoking in her 20s.  

“People want to blame my father’s smoking for my mother’s death because of secondhand smoke,” she explained. “Destigmatizing lung cancer is important. Breaking the taboo associated with lung cancer is something I would like to see in my lifetime.” 

Halper earned a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University and her doctorate in oceanography from Texas A&M. She resides in New York.