DR. BEN CARSON HEADED FOR WASHINGTON

by BOB ESCHLIMAN

Dr. Ben Carson has been officially nominated to fill the secretary of housing and urban development post in the Trump Cabinet.

Monday morning, President-elect Donald Trump made it official: Dr. Ben Carson is going to Washington.

"I am thrilled to nominate Dr. Ben Carson as our next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development," he said. "Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities."

Trump's one-time campaign rival has long wanted the HUD job in order to have a direct impact on the nation's inner cities. Carson overcame his own troubled youth in the inner city of Detroit to become a world-renowned neurosurgeon and director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland.

"We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities," Trump said. "Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a presidency representing all Americans. He is a tough competitor and never gives up."

Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 18, 1951. Although his mother lacked access to a quality education, she encouraged her sons in their scholastic pursuits and instilled the value of hard work. He graduated with honors from Southwestern High School, where he also became a senior commander in the school's ROTC program. He earned a full scholarship to Yale University and graduated in 1973 with a B.A. in psychology.

He then enrolled in the School of Medicine at the University of Michigan, choosing to become a neurosurgeon. He became the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33 and earned fame for his groundbreaking work separating conjoined twins.

Twenty years ago, Carson and his wife Candy started the Carson Scholars Fund, which is now active in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It has provided more than 7,300 scholarships since 1994 to students from all backgrounds who achieve at the highest academic levels and community service. It also encompasses the Reading Room program, and reading rooms have been placed throughout the country to stimulate a love for reading, especially in communities without adequate library facilities.

"I am honored to accept the opportunity to serve our country in the Trump administration," he said. "I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need. We have much work to do in enhancing every aspect of our nation and ensuring that our nation's housing needs are met."