Ben Carson

Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. (born September 18, 1951) is a renowned American retired neurosurgeon, author, and politician who served as the 17th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021. He gained notable recognition as a candidate in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries and is celebrated as a trailblazer in neurosurgery.

In 1984, at the young age of 33, Carson became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, making him the youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery in the nation. By the time of his retirement, he held professorships in neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Among his significant contributions to medicine are the first successful separation of conjoined twins joined at the back of the head and pioneering in utero neurosurgery for fetuses, as well as innovative approaches to treating brain-stem tumors. Carson authored over 100 publications in the field before retiring in 2013.

Carson gained national prominence in conservative circles after his impactful speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, which indirectly critiqued President Barack Obama. He formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in May 2015, initially rising to prominence in early polling before eventually suspending his campaign after Super Tuesday and endorsing Donald Trump. Following Trump's election, Carson was confirmed as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on March 2, 2017.

Throughout his career, Carson has received numerous accolades, including over 60 honorary doctorate degrees, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008, and election to the National Academy of Medicine in 2010. His inspiring story was depicted in the 2009 film "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story," starring Cuba Gooding Jr.