Surgeon From Iranian Conjoined Twin Separation To Speak

Dr. Ben Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and a member of the team of surgeons who worked to separate the Iranian Siamese twins who died, will speak at the University of Cincinnati from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center. The program is free and open to the public. 

Carson is sought out around the world for his expertise in the separation of conjoined twins.  In 1998, he became the first surgeon to successfully complete such an operation without resulting neurological defects.  More recently in July, he served on a team that separated Ladan and Laleh Bijani, conjoined twins from Iran, who underwent surgery in Singapore.

Carson emerged from a childhood of dire poverty and violence in inner-city Detroit to go on and receive his bachelor’s degree from Yale University and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan School of Medicine.

Today, Ben Carson, MD, operates on more than 300 children every year at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore.  He holds more than 30 honorary degrees, is the recipient of numerous awards and the author of three best-selling books: Gifted Hands, Think Big and The Big Picture.  In addition, he is president and co-founder of the Benevolent Endowment Fund, which provides grants to families with non-covered medical care expenses related to pediatric neurosurgery.

Dr. Carson will speak from his personal life experiences and discuss his recent battle with cancer.  He will give an inspirational look at the philosophy that helped him meet life’s obstacles and his personal formula for success.

This event is sponsored by UC’s MainStreet and the Darwin T. Turner Scholars Program.  MainStreet is a campus renovation and programming initiative designed to provide amenities and services to make the university more residential for students, faculty and staff. 

The Turner Scholars Program was founded in 1976 to recruit, retain and graduate academically talented students of color.  Originally called the Minority Scholars Program, the name was changed in 1991 to honor the late Dr. Darwin T. Turner, the youngest person ever to graduate from UC, having done so at the age of 16. Currently, there are 171 students in the program pursuing degrees in a variety of fields. 

This lecture series was established to enhance the personal and professional development of Turner Scholars, university students and community members, while recognizing Jerome Jackson, a 1989 Turner alumnus from the College of Pharmacy and significant donor to the program.

Information: Bleuzette Marshall, 513- 556-2204