Dr. Benjamin Carson Sr. to Serve as Keynote Speaker on January 19

Speech, sponsored by the Palitz Lecture Fund, kicks off full slate of MLK Jr. Day activities

December 17, 2008 -- As a child, Benjamin S. Carson Sr. grew up in a single parent home amidst dire poverty. Given his poor grades, horrible temper, and low self-esteem, few would have given him much of a chance to realize his dream of becoming a physician. But with the support of a mother who, with only a third-grade education, challenged her sons to strive for excellence, young Ben persevered. Today he is not only one of the world’s foremost pediatric neurosurgeons but is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the author of several books.

On January 19, Dr. Carson will share his remarkable story with Phillips Academy students as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day keynote speaker. His talk, to be delivered at 9:30 a.m. at Cochran Chapel, will kick off a full day of special MLK Jr. Day activities that include more than 20 workshops and community service projects.

In addition to being a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Carson has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for nearly a quarter of a century. He became the inaugural recipient of a professorship dedicated in his name in May 2008. He is now the Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D. and Dr. Evelyn Spiro, R.N. Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Some career highlights include the first separation of craniopagus (Siamese) twins joined at the back of the head in 1987, the first completely successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa, and the first successful placement of an intrauterine shunt for a hydrocephalic twin. Although he has been involved in many newsworthy operations, he feels that every case is noteworthy – deserving of maximum attention. He is interested in all aspects of pediatric neurosurgery and has a special interest in trigeminal neuralgia (severe facial pain) in adults.

Dr. Carson holds more than 50 honorary doctorate degrees. 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 sits on the board of directors of numerous organizations, including Kellogg Company, Costco Wholesale Corporation, the Academy of Achievement, and is an Emeritus Fellow of the Yale Corporation, the governing body of Yale University. He was appointed in 2004 by President George W. Bush to serve on the President’s Council on Bioethics. He is a highly regarded motivational speaker who has addressed various audiences from school systems and civic groups to corporations and the President’s National Prayer Breakfast.

In 2001, Dr. Carson was named by CNN and Time magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists. That same year, he was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 “Living Legends” on the occasion of its 200th anniversary. He is also the recipient of the 2006 Spingarn Medal, which is the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP. In February 2008, Dr. Carson was presented with the Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Medal by President Bush at the White House. In June 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the President, which is the highest civilian honor in the land.

He has literally received hundreds of other awards during his distinguished career.
He is president and cofounder of the Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. The Fund is currently operating in 27 states and the District of Columbia, having awarded more than $3.4 million dollars to more than 3,400 scholars. He also cofounded Angels of the OR, which provides grants to assist families with non-covered medical care expenses involving both adult and pediatric neurosurgery. Both programs are in national expansion mode.

His first three books, Gifted Hands, THINK BIG, and The Big Picture, provide inspiration and insight for leading a successful life. His fourth book, Take The Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live With Acceptable Risk, was released in early 2008. Dr. Carson has been married for more than 30 years to his wife, Candy, and is the father of three sons. And yes, his mother, Sonya Carson, who made all this possible, is alive and well.

Dr. Carson's appearance is sponsored by the Bernard & Louise Palitz Lecture Fund, established in 1991 in anticipation of Bernard Palitz's 50th reunion in 1992.