Alexa Canady was born in Lansing, Michigan on November 7, 1950. She was hardworking and conscientious--traits she learned from her parents--allowing her to graduate with honors from her high school and attend the University of Michigan. While there, she was invited to a summer program for minority students which sparked a passion in her for the health field. She would later attend the University of Michigan Medical School and become the first female African American neurosurgeon (1).

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        Ironically, Canady states that she almost dropped out of her undergraduate studies due to a “crisis of confidence,” but would later go on to graduate cum laude from medical school (2). However, the road after medical school graduation would only become more difficult for Canady. Having decided to pursue a career in neurosurgery, Canady found it very difficult to receive an internship in the field of her choice (1). And once she did receive an internship through Yale-New Haven Hospital in 1975, she was seen as the “equal-opportunity package,” a quota that needed to be filled rather than a person with qualified capability to be a doctor (2). But Canady was smart and passionate, which showed in the work that she did. While working as a neurosurgeon for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she was voted one of the top residents by her colleagues after only a couple years of practicing medicine (2). Dr. Canady states that her largest obstacle was “convincing the neurosurgery chairman that [she] was not a risk to drop out or be fired” along with convincing herself of this fact (2). Being the first African American women in neurosurgery, doubts of her ability came from every direction, including leaders and managers of the hospitals she worked at.

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        However, that did not stop Canady from moving up within the medical field due to her unique patient “accessibility” and consistent consideration of patient and family needs (2). This allowed her to become the chief of neurosurgery for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan from 1987 to her retirement in 2001. In addition, Canady was awarded two honorary degrees, one from the University of Detroit-Mercy and the other from the University of Southern Connecticut. In 2002, the Detroit News named Dr. Canady Michigander of the Year for her work in neurosurgery in the state (2).

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        Albeit the numerous avenues of oppression Dr. Alexa Canady was forced to face throughout her career, she was able to use her passion for medicine and well-earned degrees in order to find success and make a difference in the lives of children and their families.