[NFBV-Announce] Day 20 Black History Month

[jackibruce6 at gmail.com]

Hey NFB Family and Friends,

 

Here you go.Day 20 of Black  History Month.

 

Alexa Irene Canady, born November 7, 1950, is a retired American medical
doctor. She faced many obstacles throughout her school years. However,
despite these obstacles, Canady stood out among her peers academically, both
in the classroom and by earning high scores on her tests in school.

 

Her father was a dentist and her mother was an educator and former national
president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. as a result, she spent years
being active in civic affairs within the city of Lansing. She was the first
African American to be elected to the Lansing Board of Education. 

 

She earned both her bachelors and medical degree from the University of
Michigan.  After completing her residency (in pediatric neurosurgery) at the
University of Minnesota in 1981, she became the first African American woman
to become a neurosurgeon. This came after the first American woman was board
certified in neurosurgery in 1960. 

 

She became the chief of neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital in Michigan
from 1987 until her partial retirement in 2001. In addition to surgery, she
also conducted research and was a professor of neurosurgery at Wayne State
University. 

 

During her partial retirement in 2001, she moved to Florida. That same year,
after meeting doctors and people in the area,, she decided to work part-time
at Pensacola's Sacred Heart Hospital. She remained there until her full
retirement in January 2012. 

 

In 1989, Canady was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, and in
1993 she also received the American Medical Women's Association President's
Award. She was known amongst her peers as a patient-focused surgeon who
cared deeply about each of her patients. 

 

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

 

Submitted by Janette Gholson

 


Peace,

Jacki Bruce

Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
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Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want

 

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