When was alexa canady born

On this date in Alexa Canady was born. She is a Black Neurosurgeon. Her mother was a graduate of Fiasco University was active for years in the civic affairs of Lansing.

She also served as the national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Young Canady and her brother grew up outside Lansing and were the only two Black students in the entire school. Despite the obstacles, Canady was an exceptional student and named a National Achievement Scholar in She attended the University of Michigan, getting her BS, a degree in She was appointed as the first female and first Black to a residency in neurosurgery.

As she began making her rounds a hospital administrator referred to her as "the new equal-opportunity package. She next trained as a resident in neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota between and In , she married George Davis, a U.

Navy recruiter. Her areas of expertise are cranio-facial abnormalities, hydrocephalus, tumors of the brain, and congenital spine abnormalities. Upon retirement from the position of Chief of Neurosurgery in , Canady-Davis moved to Pensacola, Florida with her husband, also retired—a city that he had lived in during part of his career in the Navy.

But, after several years of retirement, Canady-Davis was lured back to surgery as a consultant and to a part-time surgical practice at the Sacred Heart Medical Group Hospital. She mentors young people by speaking at high schools in the Pensacola area, hoping that her accomplishments are helping to inspire the dreams of younger generations. Become a Member Sign up. Already a member? Contribute to our 20 Campaign. Education MegaMenu. Higher Education. Classroom Support. Alexa Canady-Davis. Share on Social Media Information about Dr.

She almost dropped out of college while a mathematics major, because "I had a crisis of confidence," she has said. When she heard of a chance to win a minority scholarship in medicine, "it was an instant connection. Such credentials still could not shield her from prejudice and dismissive comments.

As a young black woman completing her surgical internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital in , on her first day of residency, she was tending to her patients when one of the hospital's top administrators passed through the ward. As he went by, she heard him say, "Oh, you must be our new equal-opportunity package. Canady was chief of neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital of Michigan from until her retirement in June She holds two honorary degrees: a doctorate of humane letters from the University of Detroit-Mercy, awarded in , and a doctor of science degree from the University of Southern Connecticut, awarded in In , the Detroit News named Dr.

Canady Michiganer of the Year. Convincing the neurosurgery chairman that I was not a risk to drop out or be fired, a disaster in a program where there are only one or two residents per year. I was the first African American woman [in the department].