Let's play the "brain game." Who is the famous doctor of neurosurgery who performed over 400 brain and spinal operations in one year?

Benjamin S. Carson, (1951- ), is a famous neurosurgeon who has performed more than 400 brain and spinal surgeries in one year.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Ben did not do well in school and performed so poorly that he was called "dummy" by his classmates. His mother Sonya, a single parent with only a third grade education, was the only provider for the family and reared Benjamin and his brother alone. However, she knew the importance of education and pushed Ben and his brother. She made them stop watching so much television and read. They had to read daily and write book reports at home. Ben began to enjoy reading and went on to finish high school, college and medical school.

Dr. Carson is Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He achieved this position as the youngest director of pediatric neurosurgery when he was only 33 years of age. Ben loves helping children, not only as a doctor helping with brain injuries, diseases, and disorders, but he cares about educating and motivating young people in their quest for success. He has created the Carson Scholars Fund, reading rooms to promote youth literacy in many elementary schools, and math and science centers in YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States.

Ben loves to write and has written over 90 publications on neuro-surgery. He has received over 23 honorary degrees, several merit awards and most recently (June 19, 2008), the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award a civilian (a regular person like you and me) can receive in the United States. He is the author of "Gifted Hands," "Think Big," and "The Big Picture." What a Brain!