Ms. Tomeeka Miller

Ms. Tomeeka Miller

Assistant to the President

Assistant to the President

PHEN

Ms. Tomeeka Miller is no stranger to PHEN’s mission to eliminate the Black prostate cancer disparity, as she played a pivotal role when the organization was founded when her company, Spotlight Communications supported PHEN’s marketing, event strategy, and publicity of the very first African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit in 2005. She also helped publicize Thomas A. Farrington’s book, “Battling the Killer Within” as well as promoting the Rally Against Prostate Cancer in partnership with sponsors and church partners to an audience reach of over 20 million. 

As assistant to the President, Tomeeka brings over 20 years of experience in developing and executing strategic communications programs that drive results for nonprofits, federal agencies, and Fortune 100 companies. She built her own marketing company to over $1M in gross revenues and was also named a Boston Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree. Most recently, she led digital and social media teams for Liberty Mutual and USAA, to help better connect digital products with customers.  

Tomeeka holds a master’s degree in journalism and public Affairs from the American University, a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, and an Executive MBA from UMass Boston.

She is a proud army spouse and resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband, Isaac, 6-year-old daughter, London, 16-year-old son, Ethan, and hound dog, Chase. Tomeeka loves cycling and any type of HIIT exercise to help her keep up with the demands of her active family.

 

Rev. Adrian Backus

Rev. Adrian Backus

Director of Church Partnerships and Community Outreach

Director of Church Partnerships and Community Outreach

PHEN

Adrian Backus JD, MDiv, has more than thirty (30) years’ experience as an executive in educational and religious institutions, international assistance programs and industry.  Rev. Backus holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law, and a Master of Divinity, from Princeton Theological Seminary.  He currently serves as Director for Partnership Development and Outreach for the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN). Additionally, he served for 15 years as Princeton Theological Seminary’s first, vice president for information technology. Prior to that, he served as Director of Institutional Research and Strategic Planning as well as Assistant Director for Student Advisement. In 2003-2005, during his vice presidency, Adrian also served as, Interim pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church in Montclair, New Jersey with a focused ministry on congregational care and ministerial outreach.  In 2013 and 2015, for the CME Church Ninth Episcopal District Mid- Winter Councils, Mr. Backus lectured and led workshops on estate planning and church giving.  From 2014-2016, Mr. Backus served as Assistant Dean for the Rutgers University higher education prison degree granting program in 9 prisons throughout New Jersey.

Adrian’s other experiences include serving as general counsel for an information technology company and as a U.S. Department of State diplomatic escort officer and country director in Rwanda and Senegal Africa, for Africare. Adrian is married to Abiola. Their children and grandchildren include his daughter, Sikira, husband Sidiki; two grandsons, Cody and Maddox, and one granddaughter, Jocelyn Eliana; his son, Joel, and grandson Jeremiah, and his daughter, Adria Joi.

Mr. Thomas A. Farrington

Mr. Thomas A. Farrington

President and Founder

President and Founder

PHEN

Thomas Farrington founded the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) in 2003 after receiving treatment for prostate cancer in 2000 and publishing his first book Battling The Killer Within in 2001. Under Mr. Farrington’s leadership, PHEN is recognized as the leading prostate cancer education and advocacy organization with national programs and initiatives focused on the needs of African Americans.

A key foundation for PHEN’s success is its national network of prostate cancer survivors and their loved ones who support the organization’s efforts within their communities. PHEN partners with hundreds of churches across the nation to bring education and awareness programs into their communities and recruit local prostate cancer medical specialists as educators for these events.

PHEN also makes extensive use of online programming to reach and support individual educational needs. Mr. Farrington’s background is in Information Technology.  Farrington currently serves as a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s (NCCN) Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines Panel and the NCCN Prostate Cancer Early Detection Guidelines Panel. He serves as a trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and as an advisor to a number of other healthcare organizations and programs. Mr. Farrington received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1966.