ANN ARBOR—Dr. Alexa Canady, one of the foremost children’s neurosurgeons in the country, will receive the University of Michigan Alumnae Council’s 1995 Athena Award. Canady, who received her undergraduate degree in 1971 and her M.D. in 1975 from U-M, became the first female African American neurosurgeon in the United States.

Chief of neurosurgery at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit since 1993, Canady explores new techniques of treating life threatening conditions such as gun shot wounds and other trauma in children. She is considered a visionary in her treatment of brain injuries and the majority of her patients are 10 years old or younger. Canady is also clinical instructor of neurosurgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine.

A native of Lansing, Canady became interested in medicine during her junior and senior years at the U-M and went on to graduate from U-M Medical School.

Canady received an honorary degree from Marygrove College in 1994. She has been honored or given awards by over 20 organizations, including induction into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame; the American Medical Women’s Association President’s Award; Wayne State University’s Distinguished Service Award; Starlight Foundation’s Shining Star Award; and Roeper School’s Golden Apple Award.

The Athena Award, established in 1973, is presented each year to a U-M alumna for professional excellence and public service. Past Athena Award recipients include Antonia Novello, the first woman and first Hispanic Surgeon General of the United States; U.S. Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-Kan.); Robin Wright, distinguished foreign correspondent; and Martha Romayne Seger, former Federal Reserve Board member.

The award will be presented to Canady by Lorris Betz, senior associate dean of the U-M Medical School, at the Athena Luncheon at noon June 23 in the Ballroom of the Michigan League. A reception will follow in the Kalamazoo Room of the League.

Reservations for the June 23 Athena Award Luncheon are should be made payable to the U-M Alumni Association and sent to the Alumnae Council, Alumni Center, 200 Fletcher Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1007.

Emaail: wonol@umich.edu

Medical SchoolMarygrove CollegeAntonia Novellowonol@umich.edu