[APD] Adventist Neurosurgeon receives U.S. highest civilian award

Fri Jun 20 01:48:08 CDT 2008

June 20, 2008

Adventist Press Service [APD]

Christian B. Schaeffler, 

Editor-in-chief 

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CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Adventist Neurosurgeon receives U.S. highest civilian award

Washington, D.C./USA. [ANN/APD]   A Seventh-day Adventist pioneer in
pediatric neurosurgery who overcame childhood poverty and achieved worldwide
renown received the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States
government on June 19. 

Dr. Benjamin S. Carson Sr. was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of
Freedom for his outstanding contributions to medicine and his motivating
influence on America's young people, U.S. President George W. Bush said
during a ceremony in the White House. 

Perhaps best known for his successful efforts in separating conjoined twins
and controlling brain seizures in children, Carson is Director of Pediatric
Neurosurgery, Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Craniofacial Center and
Professor of Neurological Surgery, Oncology, Plastic Surgery and Pediatrics
at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Institutions in Baltimore
(Maryland/USA). In addition, he served as senior registrar in neurosurgery
at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Center in
Western Australia.

Carson, an inner city Detroit, Michigan native, overcame a "grim future" of
poverty, crime and violence to become "a scholar, a healer and a leader,"
Bush told the audience of cabinet members, Congressional representatives and
medal recipients and their families. 

"For his skills as a surgeon, his high moral standards and his dedication to
helping others, I am proud to bestow this honour," Bush said. 

Bush praised Carson and his wife, Candy, for founding The Carson Scholars
Fund, Inc., a non-profit national scholarship fund that promotes similar
academic achievement by recognizing and rewarding students in grades 4-11
who demonstrate academic excellence and commitment to community. 

In 2004, President Bush appointed him to serve on the President’s Council on
Bioethics.

"We congratulate Dr. Carson on this singular honour," Adventist world church
President Jan Paulsen said in a statement. "His service to humanity models
the values and quality of life expressed by our church around the globe." 

Carson, 56, is also the author of four books: an autobiography, "Gifted
Hands: The Ben Carson Story," "Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for
Excellence," "The Big Picture: Getting Perspective on What's Really
Important" and, most recently, "Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose
and Life with Acceptable Risk." Along with these four best-selling books,
Dr. Carson has authored over 100 neurosurgical publications and has been
awarded 38 honorary doctorate degrees and dozens of national merit
citations.

Medal recipients joining Carson included physician and medical researcher
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci; the late human rights champion Tom Lantos, the only
Holocaust survivor to serve in the U.S. Congress; sixteenth Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); scholar
and teacher Donna Edna Shalala; and Judge Laurence H. Silberman. 

Established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honour service during
World War II, the medal's purpose was expanded by President John F. Kennedy
in 1963 to include leaders in medicine, government and the judiciary, as
well as the military. The annual award is bestowed by the U.S. president to
those who have made a "meritorious contribution" to the nation, according to
a statement by the White House Press Secretary. [Editors: Elizabeth
Lechleitner and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]

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