Medal for Mettle
It’s been quite a year for Benjamin Carson. In May, the director of pediatric neurosurgery was awarded a $2.5 million endowed professorship. On June 19, he received a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In a statement about the recipients of the nation’s highest civilian award, the White House cited that Carson’s “groundbreaking contributions to medicine and his inspiring efforts to help America's youth fulfill their potential have strengthened our nation." Carson, 56, was appointed director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins at age 33, becoming the institution’s youngest director of a major division. He achieved worldwide fame in 1987 after leading a team to successfully separate conjoined twins attached at the back of the head. Carson and his wife, Candy, founded the Carson Scholars Fund to award scholarships to graduating high school seniors. So far, the organization has distributed 3,400 scholarships to students in 26 states.