Johns Hopkins Children's Center neurosurgeon
Benjamin
S. Carson Sr. received the nation's
highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom,
in a White House ceremony on June 19.
Carson, who was in surgery on June 11 when he heard
the news, said, "I am humbled by President
Bush's recognition of my work. I am extremely grateful that
he chose to honor me not only for my
work as a neurosurgeon but also for my efforts to improve
the lives of America's youth. I am blessed
to have the opportunity to pursue both paths, which I
consider equally important."
Established by executive order in 1963, the medal may
be awarded by the president "to any
person who has made an especially meritorious contribution
to (1) the security or national interests of
the United States, or (2) world peace or (3) cultural or
other significant public or private endeavors."
Carson is renowned for his innovative and
groundbreaking neurosurgeries, which include
separations of twins joined at the head and
hemispherectomies, surgeries in which a portion of the
brain is removed to stem intractable seizures in children.
At Johns Hopkins, where he has directed
the Division of
Pediatric Neurosurgery for nearly a quarter of a
century, Carson co-directs the
Craniofacial Center and is a professor of oncology, plastic
surgery and pediatrics.
Carson is also a philanthropist, author and motivator
of youth to rise above circumstances of
upbringing or hardship to lead meaningful, accomplished and
compassionate lives. Motivated by a
mother who challenged her sons to strive for excellence and
insisted on reading over TV viewing and
other idle pursuits, he moved on from a childhood life of
poverty in Detroit's inner city to graduate
from Yale University, 1973, and University of Michigan
School of Medicine, 1977. He subsequently
trained in pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins before
joining its faculty.
Carson is president and co-founder of the Carson
Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people
of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and
humanitarian accomplishments. He also co-founded
Angels of the OR, which provides grants to assist families
with noncovered medical care expenses
involving both adult and pediatric neurosurgery. Throughout
the school year, he shares his
inspirational medical and personal story with groups of
schoolchildren in Johns Hopkins Medicine's
largest lecture hall.
His three books, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson
Story, Think Big and The Big Picture, offer
inspiration and insight for leading a successful life. A
fourth, Take the Risk: Learning to Identify,
Choose and Live with Acceptable Risk, was released in
early 2008. Carson has been married for more
than 30 years to his wife, Candy, and is the father of
three sons. His mother, Sonya Carson, lives with
them.
Carson holds more than 40 honorary doctorates and has
received hundreds of other awards. He
is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society,
the Horatio Alger Society of
Distinguished Americans and many other prestigious
organizations. He serves on the board of
directors of numerous organizations, including the Academy
of Achievement, and is an emeritus fellow
of the Yale Corp., the governing body of his alma mater.
In 2004, President Bush appointed him to serve on the
President's Council on Bioethics. That
same year, on the occasion of its 200th anniversary, the
Library of Congress selected him as one of
its 89 Living Legends. In 2006, the NAACP bestowed upon him
its highest honor, the Spingarn Medal.
"Benjamin S. Carson Sr., M.D., has worked throughout
his career to improve the lives of those
suffering from neurological disorders," said the White
House in its press release announcing this
year's Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. "His
groundbreaking contributions to medicine and his
inspiring efforts to help America's youth fulfill their
potential have strengthened our nation."
Joining Carson in receiving the 2008 awards were
Anthony Fauci, M.D.; Tom Lantos; Gen. Peter
Pace, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); Donna Shalala; and Laurence
Silberman.
SEE ALSO