Vivien Thomas!

[gmat_perfect]

Vivien Thomas, who had no formal medical training, in struggling against overwhelming odds, he became a cardiac surgeon and eventually to receive an honorary doctorate from Johns Hopkins University.

(A) who had no formal medical training, in struggling against overwhelming odds, he became
(B) having had no formal medical training, in struggling against overwhelming odds to become
(C) who, having no formal medical training, he struggled against overwhelming odds in becoming
(D) who, having had no formal medical training and struggled against overwhelming odds, became
(E) who had no formal medical training, struggled against overwhelming odds to become

Is there any example where "XX who + COMMA -ING" is correct?

Or is it always wrong to use "XX who + COMMA -ING"?

Thanks.

[kvcpk]

to receive needs to be parallel with to become.
ACD out.

having is modifying Vivien in B which is wrong. Also the sentence looks awkward.

IMO E

[Haaress]

1 more for E

[manjitzing]

"to receive an honorary doctorate" should be in parallel with 'to became a cardiac surgeon '.. So we have narrowed down to B and E.
In B, sentence is seems like lacking the subject--a bit awkward.
So, E wins

[paes]

Vivien Thomas, who had no formal medical training, in struggling against overwhelming odds, he became a cardiac surgeon and eventually to receive an honorary doctorate from Johns Hopkins University.

(A) who had no formal medical training, in struggling against overwhelming odds, he became
(B) having had no formal medical training, in struggling against overwhelming odds to become
(C) who, having no formal medical training, he struggled against overwhelming odds in becoming
(D) who, having had no formal medical training and struggled against overwhelming odds, became
(E) who had no formal medical training, struggled against overwhelming odds to become

Is there any example where "XX who + COMMA -ING" is correct?

Or is it always wrong to use "XX who + COMMA -ING"?

Thanks.

IMO E
I don't know about any such rule.
But this is a straight problem,
Why are you looking for such strange rule ?

[reply2spg]

Addition to your explanation we need a past tense of struggle. Therefore only A and E remains. A can be eliminated as explained by kvcpk. So the answer is E

to receive needs to be parallel with to become.
ACD out.

having is modifying Vivien in B which is wrong. Also the sentence looks awkward.

IMO E