Ben Carson - Neurosurgeon, Timeline and Life
Ben Carson's Personal Details
Ben Carson is the first neurosurgeon to have successfully separated conjoined twins joined at the head
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 18, 1951 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | African American Authors, African American Scientists, African Americans, Black Scientists, Yale University, Political Leaders, Physicians, Surgeons, Neurologists, Writers, Neurosurgeon |
| City/State | Michigan |
| Spouses | Lacena Rustin |
| Known as | Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. |
| Childrens | Ben Carson Jr., Murray Carson, Rhoeyce Carson |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Birth Place | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Height | 183 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Robert Solomon Carson |
| Mother | Sonya Copeland |
| Net Worth | $26 Million as of Jan 2017 |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Famous as | Neurosurgeon |
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Ben Carson's photo
Who is Ben Carson?
Ben Carson, now a retired American neurosurgeon and acclaimed author, was the first man to have successfully separated conjoined twins who were joined at the head. Numerous attempts had been made previously by other physicians, but often one of the babies or both were unable to survive the surgery. Separating twins joined at the head is a highly risky procedure as the conjoined twins often share important blood vessels that if ruptured may lead to the twins’ death. Ben Carson and his team of doctors created history in 1987 by successfully separating the Binder twins, Patrick and Benjamin, both of whom survived and went on to lead individual lives. Today it might seem impossible to imagine that this brilliant neurosurgeon was once a poor student in school. Raised by a single mother, childhood was not easy for young Ben and he seemed poised to get into trouble. His mother Sonya though uneducated herself persuaded her children to study well and guided the boy away from trouble. Under her direction he blossomed into a great student who went to medical school. Eventually he became a world renowned neurosurgeon who specialized in separating conjoined twins. Carson is also the author of several best-sellers and has an interest in politics.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born as the second son of Sonya Copeland and Robert Solomon Carson, a Baptist Minister, in Michigan. His mother had dropped out of school to get married when she was just 13. His parents divorced when Ben was eight leaving his young mother to fend for herself and her two sons.
The family struggled as Sonya juggled two to three jobs at a time in order to make ends meet. Growing up in poverty, Ben had no interest in studies and was becoming violent. His mother adopted a stricter routine for her sons and made them study harder.
Under his mother’s guidance Ben began to take studies seriously and soon became a class topper. He graduated from Southwestern High School with honors and went to Yale University where he majored in psychology in 1973.
Determined to become a physician he went to the Medical School of the University of Michigan. Here he realized his interest in neurosurgery and specialized in this field, receiving his M.D. from the University.
Career
Following his graduation from medical school he became a neurosurgery resident at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in 1977. From early on he display great eye-hand coordination and proved himself to be a very good surgeon.
He was invited to join the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia, in 1983, as Australia at that time did not have enough neurosurgeons with expertise in the field. Though initially reluctant to move so far away from home, Carson accepted the opportunity.
He returned to Johns Hopkins in 1984 and was appointed the director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1985 when he was just 33; he also served as a co-director of the Johns Hopkins Craniofacial Center.
He created history in 1987 when he led a team of doctors in a complicated surgery to separate two 7-month-old craniopagus twins. He was consulted for this case from Germany—such was his reputation! He lived up to his image as his team successfully separated the boys.
He was invited to South Africa in 1994 to separate another pair of conjoined twins, the Makwaeba twins. However the surgery was not successful in spite of the surgeons’ best efforts and both the babies died.
A few years later he went to Zambia with his team in 1997 to operate on the Banda twins, Luka and Joseph who were joined at the tops of their heads. The surgery took a grueling 28 hours, but both the boys survived without suffering any brain damage.
He was faced with a huge challenge in 2003—to separate adult conjoined twins, Ladan and Laleh Bijani who were 29 year old Iranian women. Carson along with a team of 100 others performed the complicated surgery which proved to be more difficult than they had imagined. Unfortunately, both the ladies died shortly after operation.
In addition to his career as a neurosurgeon, he has also authored several books including ‘Gifted Hands’ (1996), ‘Think Big’ (2000), ‘The Big Picture’ (2006), ‘Take the Risk’ (2009).
Major Works
On 4 September, 1987 he became the first neurosurgeon to successfully separate a set of conjoined twins joined at the head. Along with a team of 70 doctors and other medical staff, he led the 22-hour surgery to separate the conjoined twin boys. This was the first surgery of its kind in the world where both the babies survived.
Awards & Achievements
He received the Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards in 2000.
He was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian award in 2008.
He is also the recipient of several honorary doctorate degrees from reputed universities.
Personal Life & Legacy
He met Lacena “Candy” Rustin in 1971 when both were students at Yale University. They got married in 1975 and were blessed with three sons. Carson was diagnosed with prostrate cancer during the early 2000s and is completely recovered by now.
Along with his wife he started the Carson Scholars Fund in 1994 to give scholarships to school students for “academic excellence and humanitarian qualities.”
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Ben Carson's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | United States Presidential Medal of Freedom (2008) | |
Ben Carson biography timelines
- // 18th Sep 1951He was born as the second son of Sonya Copeland and Robert Solomon Carson, a Baptist Minister, in Michigan. His mother had dropped out of school to get married when she was just 13. His parents divorced when Ben was eight leaving his young mother to fend for herself and her two sons.
- // 1973Under his mother’s guidance Ben began to take studies seriously and soon became a class topper. He graduated from Southwestern High School with honors and went to Yale University where he majored in psychology in 1973.
- // 1975He met Lacena “Candy” Rustin in 1971 when both were students at Yale University. They got married in 1975 and were blessed with three sons. Carson was diagnosed with prostrate cancer during the early 2000s and is completely recovered by now.
- // 1977Following his graduation from medical school he became a neurosurgery resident at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in 1977. From early on he display great eye-hand coordination and proved himself to be a very good surgeon.
- // 1983He was invited to join the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia, in 1983, as Australia at that time did not have enough neurosurgeons with expertise in the field. Though initially reluctant to move so far away from home, Carson accepted the opportunity.
- // 1987He created history in 1987 when he led a team of doctors in a complicated surgery to separate two 7-month-old craniopagus twins. He was consulted for this case from Germany—such was his reputation! He lived up to his image as his team successfully separated the boys.
- // 1994He was invited to South Africa in 1994 to separate another pair of conjoined twins, the Makwaeba twins. However the surgery was not successful in spite of the surgeons’ best efforts and both the babies died.
- // 1997A few years later he went to Zambia with his team in 1997 to operate on the Banda twins, Luka and Joseph who were joined at the tops of their heads. The surgery took a grueling 28 hours, but both the boys survived without suffering any brain damage.
- // 2000He received the Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards in 2000.
- // 2003He was faced with a huge challenge in 2003—to separate adult conjoined twins, Ladan and Laleh Bijani who were 29 year old Iranian women. Carson along with a team of 100 others performed the complicated surgery which proved to be more difficult than they had imagined. Unfortunately, both the ladies died shortly after operation.
- // 2008He was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian award in 2008.
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Ben Carson's FAQ
What is Ben Carson birthday?
Ben Carson was born at 1951-09-18
Where is Ben Carson's birth place?
Ben Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
What is Ben Carson nationalities?
Ben Carson's nationalities is American
Who is Ben Carson spouses?
Ben Carson's spouses is Lacena Rustin
Who is Ben Carson childrens?
Ben Carson's childrens is Ben Carson Jr., Murray Carson, Rhoeyce Carson
What was Ben Carson universities?
Ben Carson studied at Yale University
What was Ben Carson notable alumnis?
Ben Carson's notable alumnis is Yale University
How tall is Ben Carson?
Ben Carson's height is 183
Who is Ben Carson's father?
Ben Carson's father is Robert Solomon Carson
Who is Ben Carson's mother?
Ben Carson's mother is Sonya Copeland
What is Ben Carson's sun sign?
Ben Carson is Virgo
How famous is Ben Carson?
Ben Carson is famouse as Neurosurgeon