Pediatric Neurosurgeon to Deliver APIC Keynote Address

Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., MD, acclaimed author, director of pediatric neurosurgery and professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, will deliver the keynote address at the 36th annual Educational Conference and International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), on Monday, June 8 at 9:15 a.m. in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The meeting, which runs June 7-11, is the largest annual gathering of infection preventionists from around the world.

Carson will discuss “Changing the Future,” inspiring the audience to take charge of their lives, take calculated risks and dream big, no matter what obstacles confront them. His life is the subject of a television movie called “Gifted Hands,” starring Oscar winner Cuba Gooding, Jr.

Among his many achievements, Carson performed the first separation of conjoined twins, which were joined at the back of the head in 1987, as well as performing the first completely successful separation of conjoined twins in South Africa in 1997. He holds more than 40 honorary doctorate degrees, and is a member of many prestigious organizations including the Horatio Alger Society of Distinguished Americans. He is an Emeritus Fellow of the Yale Corporation, the governing body of Yale University. In 2001, he was named by CNN and Time magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists and has been selected by the Library of Congress as one of 89 Living Legends. In 2004, President George W. Bush appointed Carson to serve on the President’s Council on Bioethics. He has received numerous awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 and the 2006 Spingarn Medal which is the highest honor given by the NAACP. Carson has written three books which provide inspiration and insight for leading a successful life.

“We are proud to host Dr. Carson at this year’s annual conference,” said APIC 2009 president Christine J. Nutty, RN, MSN, CIC. “His personal story of triumph over adversity during his youth in inner-city Detroit combined with his remarkable professional achievements will inspire conference attendees and provide unique insight into improving healthcare quality.”

Source: APIC