Dr. Ben Carson- a Quick Bio

Read this Ben Carson biography to learn about a brilliant African American doctor with a fascinating back story. Ben Carson is a famous brain surgeon who has done mega-good in this world. If you need any extra tricky brain surgery to be performed on a child, call in Ben Carson, pediatric neurosurgeon and all around good guy. He is the man!

Early Life Born in Detroit in 1951, Ben Carson and his older brother, Curtis, lived in poverty. Their mom had been a 13 year old bride. She and their dad split and divorced when Ben was 8 years old. The boys and their mom lived briefly in Boston, and then came back to Detroit.

School Years Surprisingly, Ben Carson earned poor grades in elementary school. His mother stepped in and did some tough love academic interventions, like limiting TV watching, and making him read, read, read! Her high expectations started paying off by junior high school, where he shone academically. As a teen, he had a majorly bad temper. He came close to killing a friend of his, which drove him to embrace God as a Seventh Day Adventist. He got himself together, and worked hard in high school, which earned this brilliant student a scholarship to Yale.

College At Yale, he did quite well, and earned a bachelors degree in 1973. Then he went to medical school at the University of Michigan, and graduated as a doctor in 1977. He completed his residency a few years later at Johns Hopkins.

Personal Life Ben Carson married in 1975. His wife, Lacena Rustin, and he have three boys. Carson has written books that inspire young people. He speaks to groups of young people to inspire them to be their best selves. He wants kids to stop limiting themselves, and to "think big."

Professional Life A Ben Carson biography wouldn't be complete without info about his stellar professional life. He was the youngest doctor ever to head the Johns Hopkins pediatric Neurosurgery department. With his highly skillful hands, he resurrected the hemispherectomy operation, which, believe it or not, helps a child by removing half of the brain to stop debilitating seizures. He also did a super famous operation to separate baby Siamese twins in 1987. Ben Carson has been awarded tons of honors, including many honorary degrees, and many in recognition of service to others.