A Seventh-day Adventist pioneer in pediatric neurosurgery who overcame childhood poverty and achieved worldwide renown received the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States government on June 19.

Dr. Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his outstanding contributions to medicine and his motivating influence on America's young people, U.S. President George W. Bush said during a ceremony in the White House.

Perhaps best known for his successful efforts in separating conjoined twins and controlling brain seizures in children, Carson is Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Craniofacial Center and Professor of Neurological Surgery, Oncology, Plastic Surgery and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Institutions in Baltimore (Maryland/USA). In addition, he served as senior registrar in neurosurgery at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Center in Western Australia.

Carson, an inner city Detroit, Michigan native, overcame a "grim future" of poverty, crime and violence to become "a scholar, a healer and a leader," Bush told the audience of cabinet members, Congressional representatives and medal recipients and their families.

"For his skills as a surgeon, his high moral standards and his dedication to helping others, I am proud to bestow this honour," Bush said.

Bush praised Carson and his wife, Candy, for founding The Carson Scholars Fund, Inc., a non-profit national scholarship fund that promotes similar academic achievement by recognizing and rewarding students in grades 4-11 who demonstrate academic excellence and commitment to community.

In 2004, President Bush appointed him to serve on the President’s Council on Bioethics.

"We congratulate Dr. Carson on this singular honour," Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen said in a statement. "His service to humanity models the values and quality of life expressed by our church around the globe."

Carson, 56, is also the author of four books: an autobiography, "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story," "Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence," "The Big Picture: Getting Perspective on What's Really Important" and, most recently, "Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose and Life with Acceptable Risk." Along with these four best-selling books, Dr. Carson has authored over 100 neurosurgical publications and has been awarded 38 honorary doctorate degrees and dozens of national merit citations.

Medal recipients joining Carson included physician and medical researcher Dr. Anthony S. Fauci; the late human rights champion Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the U.S. Congress; sixteenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.); scholar and teacher Donna Edna Shalala; and Judge Laurence H. Silberman.

Established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honour service during World War II, the medal's purpose was expanded by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to include leaders in medicine, government and the judiciary, as well as the military. The annual award is bestowed by the U.S. president to those who have made a "meritorious contribution" to the nation, according to a statement by the White House Press Secretary. [Editors: Elizabeth Lechleitner and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]