Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, MD, officially threw his hat into the ring of potential 2016 presidential candidates.
Here are five things to know about Dr. Carson:
1. Dr. Carson is a former head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.
2. He made the announcement in his hometown of Detroit. Dr. Carson has never held political office before.
3. Dr. Carson is a conservative candidate and has spent the past few years speaking at conservative and Republican events.
4. An opponent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Dr. Carson disagrees with President Barack Obama on healthcare reform tactics and several other policies.
5. While he endeared himself to the Fox News audience and has won strawpolls in Iowa and Colorado, he has also made some controversial statements such as not believing in evolution and comparing healthcare reform to slavery, according to an MSNBC report.
He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. "While the AANS does not endorse political candidates, we are nevertheless excited that one of our members seeks to contribute to our society by making this courageous leap into the political fray," said AANS President Robert E. Harbaugh, MD. "We wish Dr. Carson all the best in this important endeavor."