World-renowned brain surgeon Benjamin Carson, M.D., served as orator for the 143rd Opening Convocation. He charged students to take their "God-given talent to elevate other people." Cramton Auditorium exceeded its capacity as more than 1500 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends gathered to hear his message of hope and inspiration.

Dr. Carson had a childhood dream of becoming a physician. Growing up in a single parent home and being challenged by dire poverty, poor grades, a horrible temper, and low self-esteem appeared to preclude the realization of that dream, until his mother, with only a third-grade education, challenged her sons to strive for excellence. Young Ben persevered, and today is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for over a quarter of a century. He became the inaugural recipient of a professorship dedicated in his name in May, 2008. He is now the Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D. and Dr. Evelyn Spiro, R.N. Professor of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Listen to the address by Dr. Benjamin Carson