The first African American Woman
Neurosurgeon in the U.S.
By: Rachel Neumeyer
7th hour, Danko
What did she do?
She was the first African
American woman neurosurgeon
in the United States. She
changed the face of neurosurgery
by challenging the old school
rules. She performed many
different surgeries like brain
tumors, spinal surgeries, head
injuries, shunts, and pregnancy
complications.
*She was also a teacher at
Wayne State
Table of Contents
Family/Background, 4-7
Education, 8-10
Anecdotes/Interesting facts, 11-14
Significant Contributions, 15-16
Awards, 17-19
Conclusion, 20
Bibliography, 21-22
Family/Background
• Was born November 7,
1950
• Grew up in Lansing,
Michigan
• Dad: Clinton Canady
• Mom: Elizabeth Hortense
Golden Canady
Family
• Has three brothers
• Grew up with her
mom, dad,
grandma, and
siblings
• She grew up in an
all white
community
Parents Jobs
• Mom was a College
Administrator, after
children were born she
became the president of
Delta Sigma Theta, all black
sorority.
• Dad was a dentist
• Grandmother was a teacher
Brothers and their jobs
• Mark was a former Lansing
councilman
• Clinton was a police officer
• Alan was a minority leader
• Never got
straight A’s
• Was on
probation
because she
skipped classes
*U of M in 1971
*U of M Medical
School in 1975
*U of Minnesota in
1976-1981
*U of Pennsylvania
in 1981-1982
• Internship at New Haven
Hospital-Yale in 1974-1975
and again in 1975-1976
• 74-75 made history
• She was the only
black girl in her
elementary school
• Her top health goal
is to have fun
• Played football
really well.
Interesting Stories of racism
Teachers
practiced racism
by changing her
grades.
Students
practiced racism
by making fun of
her
~Crime not an honor
~Got the job from
outside forces
~In 1983 there were
3,300 neurosurgeons,
less then 60 were black
an almost all were men.
Anecdotes
~Youngest black female in her
specialty
~Took a college math test in
high school and got an A
because she read so much
Significant Contributions
~Handles most of the difficult
cases of brain tumors, spinal
surgeries and other life
saving procedures.
~Built the neurosurgery
program into a respected
service
Significant Contributions
~Performs surgeries to end recurring
seizures, tumors in the brain or spine
and shunts
~Special research topics such as head
injuries, shunts, and pregnancy
complications
Awards
*Alpha Omega Honorary Medical Society in
1975
*Fellowship in pediatrics award for
neurosurgery in 1981-1982
*Teacher of the year award in 1984
Awards
*Candace Award in 1986
*Woman of the year award in 1993
*Golden Apple Award in 1997
Awards
`Honored for the work as first female
African American neurosurgeon in the
united states
`Athena award
`American Medical Woman's
Association President’s
Award
*Alexa Canady was not only a great doctor,
but she was a great person. She cared a
lot about others, especially her patients.
To get to where she is now she had many
obstacles. But she was strong and over
came them. She has done a lot for her
community and her experiences have
made children want to be just like her.
Bibliography
Internet
*www.albion.edu/educate/art/aframsci.karen.htm
March 6th
>www.detnow.com/fromtheheart/000711h.html
March 17th
>www.freep.com/womenhistory99/qneuro8.htm
March 6th
>www.detnews.com/specialreports/2002/michiganians/c
anady/canady.htm
March 6th
Books
*Notable Twentieth-Century Scientists, pg.303
*Who’s Who Among African Americans, pg.202-203
Bibliography
Pictures
*clip art
*www.google.com
*www.yahoo.com