Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. is a renowned American neurosurgeon, author, and politician who has made groundbreaking contributions to the field of neurosurgery. Born on September 18, 1951, Carson has had a storied career spanning over four decades.
As a pioneering neurosurgeon, Carson has performed numerous complex procedures, including the first reported separation of conjoined twins joined at the back of the head, as well as the first successful neurosurgical procedure on a fetus inside the womb. He has also developed new methods to treat brain-stem tumors and revitalized hemispherectomy techniques for controlling seizures.
Carson's achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees and numerous national merit citations. He has been named one of the nation's 20 foremost physicians and scientists by CNN and TIME magazine, and was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 "Living Legends" on its 200th anniversary.
In addition to his medical accomplishments, Carson has also made a significant impact in the political arena. He ran for the Republican nomination for President in 2016 and later served as the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021.
