Dr. Benjamin Carson

In addition to being a world-renowned neurosurgeon, author and, of course, Kellogg board member, Dr. Benjamin Carson is also a highly sought-after motivational speaker. Last week, in fact, he delivered the keynote address at the Kellogg's International Technical Symposium (KITS), a major gathering of Research, Quality and Technology and Global Engineering employees from around our Kellogg world. His remarks focused on the pursuit of success and importance of taking risks.

A longtime Kellogg board member was recently honored as an individual whose accomplishments exemplify the legacy and character of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

Dr. Benjamin Carson, who has served as one of our company's directors since 1997, received a Ford's Theatre Lincoln Medal. The annual awards are given to those deemed to illuminate or reflect President Lincoln's legacy of leadership, service, humanity, wisdom, eloquence and vision in their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes.

Ben is director of pediatric neurosurgery at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore. He was appointed to this position in 1984 at the age of 33, making him one of the youngest doctors in America to hold such a position.

His work captured worldwide media attention in 1987, when he led the team that successfully separated conjoined twins who shared a portion of the same brain. As a physician and professor of neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins, Ben has made numerous contributions to the fields of pediatrics, oncology and plastic surgery.

Additionally, Ben has authored three bestselling books, "Gifted Hands," "Think Big" and "The Big Picture," with a fourth, "Take the Risk," now in bookstores. Along with his wife, he co-founded the nonprofit Carson Scholars Fund, which recognizes and rewards scholarships to students in grades 4-11 who strive for academic excellence.

Ben received the Lincoln Medal last month during a special ceremony at the White House with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in attendance. Also honored with a Lincoln Medal this year was retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O' Connor.

Ford's Theatre is the Washington, D.C., landmark where Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president, was assassinated in 1865. Today, the institution's stated mission is to celebrate Lincoln's legacy and explore the American experience through theatre and education.