Special Guests Visit Pennington Biomedical

Visits and Tours this month included Dr. Ben Carson, along with his wife Candy, and students from Westdale Middle School and Unitech Academy

 

April 30, 2025 · Baton Rouge, LA

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This month, Pennington Biomedical welcomed renowned neurosurgeon and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson to tour the Center and discover more about the incredible science and research conducted here.

Touring with his wife, Candy Carson, Dr. Carson was shown around by scientists and staff who briefed them on the research findings and studies that have taken place over the past 35 years, as well as discussing with them the next steps in discovering the triggers of chronic disease. 

Dr. Carson visited each division of Pennington Biomedical, including touring basic science labs; the metabolic chambers, including the infant metabolic champber - the only such chamber being utilzed for research in the world; and the Center's clinic and in-patient units. Dr. Carson had lunch and a roundtable discussion with Center leadership before departing. 

Taking place concurrently, students from Westdale Middle School were also given a tour of Pennington Biomedical. Students were brought to the exergaming room in TReCC to see how the fun of video games can also translate into exercise and strength building, Dr. Bob Dubin provide a tour of the clinic to see some of the unique equipment used, and Dr. Kayla Fuselier of the Genetically Engineered Models Core demonstrated how to use the precision equipment needed for microscopic experiments.

In a rare moment, these two tour groups passed each other, with Baton Rouge students meeting the former cabinet member and world-famous neurosurgeon, providing a perfect example of the sort of prominent guests that walk through the halls of Pennington Biomedical, right in the backyards of these future researchers. 

A few days later, an additional tour passed through the halls of Pennington Biomedical. Twenty students from Unitech Academy were given a tour of the Center by Dr. Stephanie Waldrop, who took them through the clinic, and Dr. David McDougal, who took them through the Basic Science labs. Both provided them with an overview of the types of careers one can have in research.

If you have a group who is interested in touring Pennington Biomedical Reseach Center, please contact the Communications and Marketing Office at marketing@pbrc.edu.