Dr. Alexa I. Canady

DR. ALEXA CANADY WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 7, 1950, IN LANSING, MICHIGAN. WHILE CANADY WAS ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, A HEALTH CAREERS SUMMER PROGRAM FOR MINORITY STUDENTS SPARKED HER INTEREST IN MEDICINE.

SHE WAS ACCEPTED AS A SURGICAL INTERN AT YALE-NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL.  AFTER HER INTERNSHIP, SHE LATER COMPLETED HER RESIDENCY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND BECAME THE COUNTRY'S FIRST FEMALE AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEUROSURGEON.  CANADY SPECIALIZED AS A PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGEON AND SERVED AS CHIEF OF NEUROSURGERY AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MICHIGAN IN 1987. UNDER HER GUIDANCE, THE DEPARTMENT WAS SOON VIEWED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN 2001.

CANADY WAS INDUCTED INTO THE MICHIGAN WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME IN 1989 AND RECEIVED THE AMERICAN MEDICAL WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT'S AWARD IN 1993.