Thomas Farrington

Carney Hospital President Walter Ramos this week announced the appointment of Thomas Farrington to the Board of Directors.

Carney Hospital President Walter Ramos this week announced the appointment of Thomas Farrington to its board of directors.

“I am so pleased that Tom will join Carney in this high level capacity” Ramos said. “His experience, advocacy and compassion for people in our community who are battling and recovering from prostate cancer makes his advice and experience invaluable, especially as we work to serve and expand our service to the community and its healthcare needs.”

“It is a privilege to become a member of the Carney family and to serve for an institution that is indispensable to our community,” commented Farrington.

Farrington founded the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) in 2003 following his treatment for prostate cancer in 2000. PHEN is recognized as the leading prostate cancer patient education and advocacy organization focusing on African Americans, the population most impacted by the disease.

When diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000, Farrington lacked knowledge about the disease even though he lost his father and both grandfathers to it. He continued to study prostate cancer during treatment and realized that his experience, along with the experiences of men in treatment with him, could help others. This prompted him to write his nationally-acclaimed book, “Battling the Killer Within,” in 2001. The book provided an insightful look at men facing prostate cancer and the prostate care system in the United States. In 2005 he released his second book, “Battling the Killer Within and Winning.”

As a business executive Farrington is a leader in small and minority-owned business development. He worked closely on business issues and legislation with Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neil, former Senator John Kerry and former Maryland Congressman Parren Mitchell. Board positions have included: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Export/Import Bank and NC A&T State Univ. Farrington also served as a member of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.