31 Facts About Alexa Canady

Alexa Canady was born in Lansing, Michigan and earned both her bachelors and medical degree from the University of Michigan.

In 1989, Alexa Canady was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, and in 1993 she received the American Medical Women's Association President's Award.

Alexa Canady was known amongst her peers as a patient-focused surgeon who cared deeply about each of her patients.

Alexa Irene Canady was born in Lansing, Michigan to Elizabeth Hortense Canady and Clinton Canady, Jr.

Alexa Canady's mother was an educator and former national president of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Alexa Canady spent years being active in civic affairs within the city of Lansing.

Alexa Canady's parents attended Fisk University, where they met and later married on her mother's 19th birthday right before her father's deployment during World War II.

Alexa Canady's father was a graduate of Dentistry of Meharry Medical College.

Alexa Canady's parents taught her about the importance of education and hard work as a child, which would ultimately help her graduate from high school with honors.

Alexa Canady's mother being a former President of Delta Sigma Theta and her father a dentist, she was taught the importance of education from an early age.

However, despite these obstacles, Alexa Canady stood out among her peers academically, both in the classroom and by earning high scores on her tests in school.

Alexa Canady graduated with honors from Lansing Everett High School in 1967.

Alexa Canady had originally chosen to major in mathematics but she soon realized that math was not her passion.

Alexa Canady settled on this specialty against the recommendations of her advisors.

Alexa Canady then became a surgical intern at the Yale-New Haven Hospital from 1975 to 1976, rotating under William F Collins.

In 1982, after finishing residency, Alexa Canady decided to specialize as a pediatric neurosurgeon, becoming the first African-American and the first woman to do so.

Alexa Canady chose pediatrics because of her love of the children in the pediatric ward during her residency stating "it never ceased to amaze me how happy the children were".

Alexa Canady started practicing for a short time at the Henry Ford Hospital before going to work at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Alexa Canady then became the first African-American woman to be a board-certified Neurosurgeon in 1984.

Alexa Canady became Chief of Neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital of Michigan in 1987 and held the position until her partial retirement in 2001.

Alexa Canady conducted research and published an article about the effectiveness of the treatment for hydrocephalus that were available in 2001.

Alexa Canady served as a professor of neurosurgery there as well.

From 2001 to her retirement in 2012, Alexa Canady worked as a part-time surgeon and consultant at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fl.

However, after meeting local doctors and realizing the need for a pediatric neurosurgeon in the area, Alexa Canady decided to join the staff at Sacred Heart Hospital, working part-time.

Alexa Canady continues to be both an advocate for her profession as well as diversity in medicine.

Alexa Canady was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1989.

Alexa Canady received the American Medical Women's Association President's Award in 1993 and in 1994 was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Wayne State University Medical School.

Alexa Canady received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1986.

Alexa Canady is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and the American College of Neurosurgery.

Alexa Canady was featured in a Nickelodeon Black History Month short animation that aired in February 2015 to celebrate her achievement of being the first African-American woman to become a neurosurgeon.

Alexa Canady has stated that she does not like getting attention or being famous.