Title
To honor, recognize and celebrate the work and service of Dr. Alexa Irene Canady - the first African-American female neurosurgeon in the United States.
Body
WHEREAS, Dr. Alexa Irene Canady was born in Lansing, Michigan, on November 7, 1950 to Mr. Clinton Canady Jr. - a dentist and graduate of Meharry Medical School and Mrs. Elizabeth Hortense Golden Canady, an educator who became the 18th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated; one of the most influential organizations in Black America; and
WHEREAS, Alexa’s parents, as a child, instilled with in her the importance of education, hard work, sisterhood, leadership, and service - which helped and inspired her to graduate from high school with honors and pursue a career as a Neurosurgeon; and
WHEREAS, Alexa received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan in 1971; she then matriculated to the University of Michigan’s Medical school - graduating in 1975; and
WHEREAS, after medical school, Alexa moved to Minnesota to complete her residency at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Neurosurgery, where she finished in 1981, thus becoming the first African-American female neurosurgeon - in 1984 she completed her certification with the American Board of Neurological Surgery - becoming the first African American female to become board certified; and
WHEREAS, Alexa’s commitment to education, hard work, and service exemplifies excellence - during her stellar career she became known for her dedicated patient care and work in her specialty as a pediatric neurosurgeon; she also served as the Chief of Neurosurgery for Children's Hospital in Detroit Michigan from 1987 to 2001; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Canady’s achievements and career of service have landed her a number of honors - she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1989; she received the American Medical Women's Association President's Award in 1993, and many other accolades; and
WHEREAS Dr. Canady’s life and commitment to raising the standard of attainment stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking to achieve particularly in the field of medicine whose history due to the color line in medicine, required the first few black physicians to receive their medical degrees abroad; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby honor, recognize and celebrate the work and service of Dr. Alexa Irene Canady - the first African-American female neurosurgeon in the United States.