Ben Carson: Surgical Pioneer

[pic 1]Ben Carson: Surgical Pioneer

        Although Ben Carson is most presently known for his presidential candidacy, he made various achievements as a medical doctor. His medical work often gets overlooked now because of his political aspirations. Nonetheless, Carson paved the way for many doctors and surgeons, especially minorities.

        Carson had a very troubled childhood growing up in the inner-city of Detroit. He and his brother were raised by their single mother for the majority of their lives. Ben had many difficulties as a student growing up but eventually he was able to reach the top of his class because of his mother’s value of education. After graduating high school, Carson received a full scholarship to Yale University, where he received his B.A. degree in psychology in 1973. Carson later on received his medical degree and finished his residency in neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. In fact, Ben Carson became the director of pediatric neurosurgery in 1985 and the youngest physician to hold that position in the U.S. at the time. Due to his success at Johns Hopkins, Carson was asked to perform a surgery to separate twins conjoined at the head. The 22-hour procedure was successful and both twins survived. This operation is even considered to be the first successful procedure of its kind. Carson then went on to perform multiple craniopagus operations that resulted in both success and failure. Nevertheless, Carson’s bold procedures have helped educate many doctors and advance the world of medicine. Ben Carson’s risky procedures attracted a lot of attention from the public. He later on received the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP. In addition, President George W. Bush awarded him with the Carson the Ford's Theatre Lincoln Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was able to use that attention to visit schools, hospitals, and businesses where he told his story and the lessons he learned along the way. He valued education so much that he and his wife created the Carson Scholars Fund in 1994 to reward students for their academic success. Unfortunately, Carson received very bad news in the midst of his esteemed career- he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the year of 2002. However, Ben was able to overcome his cancer and he is currently cancer free. Afterwards, Carson began to publish many books about his medical career and his view on the world.