Alexa Irene Canady: First Female African American Neurosurgeon of the United States

Pooja Venkatesh; Umaru Barrie; Michael M Covell; Marianne I J Tissot; Momodou G Bah; Donald Detchou; Salah G Aoun; Carlos A Bagley

doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2023.05.103

Alexa Irene Canady: First Female African American Neurosurgeon of the United States

World Neurosurg. 2023 Jun 1:177:26-30. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.05.103. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Pooja Venkatesh¹, Umaru Barrie², Michael M Covell³, Marianne I J Tissot⁴, Momodou G Bah⁵, Donald Detchou⁴, Salah G Aoun¹, Carlos A Bagley¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
² Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. Electronic address: Umaru.Barrie@UTSouthwestern.edu.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
⁵ Department of Neurosurgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.

PMID: 37270094
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.05.103

Abstract

Background: This historical account reviews the course and lasting impact of Dr. Alexa Irene Canady in neurosurgery.

Methods: The writing of this project was sparked by the discovery of original scientific and bibliographical information about Alexa Canady, the first female African-American neurosurgeon in the nation. This article is a thorough review of the literature and information on Canady, reflecting the breadth of these previous publications, and showcasing our viewpoints after comprehensive compilation of information.

Results: Our paper begins by introducing Dr. Alexa Irene Canady and her decision to pursue a career in medicine during her years in university; follows her journey through medical school and growing interests in neurosurgery; outlines her journey in residency; discusses her career as an established pediatric neurosurgeon at the University of Michigan; outlines her role in establishing a department of pediatric neurosurgery in Pensacola, Florida; and details the obstacles and challenges she faced throughout her career, as well as the barriers she broke along the way.

Conclusions: Our article provides glimpses into the personal life and achievements of Dr. Alexa Irene Canady and her marked impact on the field of neurosurgery.

Keywords: Alexa Canady; Neurosurgery; Pediatrics; WINS; Women in Neurosurgery.