Ben Carson: Leading Millions in the World of Health Care

Benjamin Solomon Carson, Sr., M.D., was born on September 18th, 1951. He is a retired American neurosurgeon. Carson was not only a professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics, but he was also the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Ben Carson always had dreams of becoming a doctor at a very young age, and with the help of his mother, he used his drive and dedication to get there. Not only did he change his life, which was filled with poverty, poor grades, and low self-esteem, but he changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of others in the world. Not only by saving lives, but by inspiring others that they too, could be extraordinary.

Hopkins Medicine speaks highly of Carson’s achievements in the realms of health care. “His exceptionally blessed career includes the first separation of craniopagus (Siamese) twins joined at the back of the head in 1987 and the first completely successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa (Hopkins Medicine, 2010).” Carson believed in each surgery being the utmost importance which meant he dedicated his maximum attention to every case.

Dr. Carson holds over forty honorary doctorate degrees to his name along with dozens and dozens of national merit citations. He is a member of the American Academy of Achievement and the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In the year 2008, Ben Carson was awarded a 2008 Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Medal. The award was presented to Carson by President Bush. “Chosen by the Executive Committee of the Ford’s Theatre Board, Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Medal is given annually to individuals who through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes exemplify the lasting legacy and mettle of character embodied by President Abraham Lincoln (Hopkins Children Hospital, 2008). Within the same year, Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is an award that is the highest civilian award of the United States of America.

Benjamin Carson’s skills in and out of the hospital are what truly make him a great leader. He not only teaches students throughout the world to be the best surgeons and doctors that they can be, yet he inspires non-medical individuals to do the same. One of the methods that he uses to lead the world of health care is his writing career. Carson has written six bestselling novels. The first novel is his autobiography, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. “The gift of eye and hand coordination has been an invaluable asset in surgery. Good surgeons must understand the consequences of each action, for they’re often not able to see what’s happening to see on the other side of the area in which the area they’re actually working (Carson, 1992).”

Not only was his autobiography used to help educate adults, but a different version was written to help instruct and inspire children. Carson’s contributions to the nation and world didn’t stop outside of the surgery realm. On July 8th, 2013, Carson joined The Washington Times as a weekly opinion columnist.

He and his wife also started the Carson Scholars Fund in 1994 to help give scholarships to students in grades 4-11 for academic excellence and humanitarian qualities. This fund helps give students who have reached success in both science and mathematics a $1,000 scholarship toward their college education. The program has helped over five thousand students and counting.

Not only is Ben Carson a leader in health care, yet he is also a leader in humanity, taking on the important role of voicing the fact that each and every person can strive for excellence. To this day, his positive drive and dedication to society are making the world a better place for millions.

References

Carson, Ben. “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story” (1992).

John Hopkins Children’s Hospital. (2008). Benjamin Carson, M.D., awarded the Ford’s Theatre Lincoln medal. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/newsDetail.aspx?id=3068

John Hopkins Medicine. (2010). Benjamin Solomon Carson, Sr., M.D. Retrieved from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/facial_paralysis_pain_treatment_center/about_us/our_team/carson.html