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Ben Carson

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ben Carson
Official portrait, 2025
National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing
Assumed office
September 24, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
SecretaryBrooke Rollins
Preceded byPosition established
17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
In office
March 2, 2017 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyPam Patenaude
Brian D. Montgomery
Preceded byJulian Castro
Succeeded byMarcia Fudge
Personal details
Born
Benjamin Solomon Carson

(1951-09-18) September 18, 1951 (age 74)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (1981–1999, since 2014)[1]
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1975)​
Children3
EducationYale University (BA)
University of Michigan (MD)
AwardsPresidential Medal of Freedom (2008)
Spingarn Medal (2006)
Signature
Ben Carson
Medical career
ProfessionNeurosurgeon
InstitutionsJohns Hopkins School of Medicine
National Academy of Medicine
Sub-specialtiesPediatric neurosurgery
Achondroplasia
Craniosynostosis
Epilepsy
Trigeminal neuralgia
ResearchHemispherectomy
Conjoined twins separation

Benjamin S. "Ben" Carson, Sr (born September 18, 1951) is an American neurosurgeon and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021. After graduating from Yale University, Carson went to University of Michigan Medical School, and was later accepted to Johns Hopkins University.

In 2008, Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush. He was the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is known for, among other accomplishments, being the first doctor to separate twins that were joined together at the head. In 2025, Carson became the National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing for the Department of Agriculture.

Early life

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Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan to Sonya Copeland and Robert Carson.[2] He studied at Yale University and at the University of Michigan.

Medical career

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Carson was a professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics, and he was the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.[3] At 33, he became the youngest major division director in the hospital's history as director of pediatric neurosurgery. He was also a co-director of the Johns Hopkins Craniofacial Center.

He was the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins joined at the head. In 2008 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. After delivering a widely publicized speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, he became a popular conservative figure in political media for his views on social and political issues.[4]

In March 2013, Carson announced he would retire as a surgeon, stating "I'd much rather quit when I'm at the top of my game".[5] His retirement became official on July 1, 2013.[6]

2016 presidential campaign

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Carson ran for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2016 election.[7]

On March 2 following the 2016 Super Tuesday primaries, Carson announced that while he was not suspending his campaign he "did not see a 'path forward'" and would not attend the next Republican debate in Detroit.[8] On March 4, 2016, Carson suspended his presidential campaign. He later endorsed Donald Trump.[9]

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2017–2021)

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On December 5, 2016, Donald Trump nominated Carson for the job of United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

On March 2, 2017, Carson was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 58–41 vote.[10]

Department of Agriculture

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On September 24, 2025, Carson was sworn in as the National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.[11]

Personal life

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Carson married Candy Carson in 1975. They have three children. He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

References

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  1. ↑ Solomon, John (2014-11-04). "Ben Carson officially switches parties, returns to GOP". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  2. ↑ "Sonya Carson, Ben Carson's Mother, Passes at 88". Adventist Review. November 22, 2017. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Neurologists & Neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins he also worked at K.H.M.H in Belize in 2009 where he did twelve operations. – Profile: Dr. Benjamin Carson". Hopkins Medicine. June 24, 2013. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  4. ↑ Preston, Mark (December 3, 2014). "Ben Carson: Political phenomenon". CNN. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ Blake, Aaron (March 16, 2013). "Ben Carson announces retirement, feeds presidential speculation". Washington Post. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  6. ↑ Williams, Armstrong (1 July 2013). "My Chat With Retiring Dr. Ben Carson". Newsmax. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ Peoples, Steve; Barrow, Bill (May 3, 2015). "Ben Carson, famed neurosurgeon, running for president". Yahoo! news. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ Robert Costa; Ben Terris (2 March 2016). "Ben Carson tells supporters he sees no 'path forward' for presidential campaign". The Washington Post.
  9. ↑ "Ben Carson Suspends 2016 Presidential Campaign at CPAC". NBC News.com. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  10. ↑ "CSPAN on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  11. ↑ "Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., Sworn in as National Nutrition Advisor at U.S. Department of Agriculture". USDA. September 24, 2025. Archived from the original on October 30, 2025. Retrieved October 30, 2025.

Other websites

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Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Carson&oldid=10897019"