Benjamin
Solomon Carson, MD
Neurosurgeon
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Dr. Ben Carson was born September 18, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan. He garnered worldwide attention in 1987 by successfully separating conjoined twins who shared a portion of the same brain. Since then, Carson's work in pediatric medicine contributed to the development of new technologies and made him the most notable African-American neurosurgeon in the United States and the foremost expert in separating conjoined twins in the world.
Dr. Carson was one of the major surgeons who attempted, unsuccessfully, to separate the 21-year old Iranian conjoined twins. In an interview, he was asked why he placed his reputation on the line and got involved in that case; his response was that he had heard the twins speak and say that they wanted to be separated and would prefer dying to continue living as they were. After that testimony, he felt that since he had done more of these operations than anyone in the world, he wanted to share his skills and experience to help them.
In addition to his medical career, he has also devotes himself to giving back to the community by encouraging strong morals and education.
HIS EDUCATION
His Bachelor's degree in psychology was taken from Yale University, 1973;
his medical degree was taken from the University of Michigan School of
Medicine, 1977; his internship in general surgery was at Johns Hopkins
Hospital, 1977; and a residency in neurological surgery at Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, 1978-1982.
HIS CAREER
Dr. Carson has been director of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery
at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, since 1984. He is also a professor
of neurosurgery, plastic surgery, oncology and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins
School of Medicine as well as the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Craniofacial
Center. His work focuses on traumatic brain injuries; brain and spinal
cord tumors; achondroplasia, a genetic disorder resulting in a form of
dwarfism; neurological and congenital disorders; craniosynostosis, a congenital
anomaly characterized by the premature closure of one or more of the sutures
of an infant's head; epilepsy; and trigeminal neuralgia. He also has written
three books: Gifted Hands, Think Big, and The Big Picture.
AWARDS RECEIVED
Living Legend Award, Library of Congress Bicentennial (2000); Public Service
Award, American Institute for Public Service (2000); Tree of Life Award
Recipient, Jewish National Fund (1998); Yale Alumni Fellow, Board of Trustees,
Yale Corp., Yale University (1997); Essence Award (1994); Horatio Alger
Award, Horatio Alger Society of Distinguished Americans (1994); and numerous
honorary doctoral degrees.
Gibbs Magazine salutes a giver and a master Neurosurgeon who cares
about people. []
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuYmhJUeoBE
