Honestly, it’s one of those questions that pops up every few months on social media. People start scrolling through history, stumble across her incredible story, and suddenly everyone is asking: is Alexa Canady still alive? It makes sense why we're curious. Dr. Canady isn't just a name in a textbook; she’s a living legend who basically kicked down the doors of the medical establishment back when they were double-bolted against people who looked like her.
The short answer? Yes. Dr. Alexa Canady is alive. As of early 2026, the woman who shattered one of the highest glass ceilings in medicine—becoming the first Black female neurosurgeon in the United States—is enjoying a well-earned retirement in Florida.
But there is so much more to her current status than just "being retired." Her life today is a reflection of the same tenacity she showed when she was a young resident at Yale being told she was just an "equal opportunity package." (Yeah, someone actually said that to her face. Imagine the nerve.)
Why People Keep Asking About Her
In the age of viral "where are they now" threads, Dr. Canady’s name carries a lot of weight. Born in 1950, she’s currently in her mid-70s. She hasn't been in the operating room for a while, which sometimes leads people to assume the worst or simply lose track of her.
Actually, she tried to retire once before. It didn't stick.
Back in 2001, after years of serving as the Chief of Neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital of Michigan, she packed her bags for Pensacola, Florida. She wanted to relax. She wanted to spend time with her husband, George Gadson. But then she realized something that bothered her: there were no pediatric neurosurgeons in her new community.
So, what did she do? She went back to work.
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She practiced part-time at Sacred Heart Hospital for another 11 years because she couldn't stand the idea of kids not having access to the care they needed. She didn't "truly" retire until 2012. That’s the kind of person we’re talking about here.
Life in 2026: What is Dr. Canady Doing Now?
Even though she isn't scrubbing in for surgery these days, she hasn't exactly gone quiet.
If you look at recent medical reunions or university events, her name still surfaces. Just this past year, she was celebrated during the 50th reunion of her University of Michigan Medical School class. She’s still very much a presence in the lives of young medical students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
She’s basically the ultimate mentor.
A lot of her current "work" involves:
- Advocating for minority health: She has been vocal about the scarcity of research targeting health concerns specific to Black patients.
- Mentorship: She frequently talks to students about the "crisis of confidence" she faced in college.
- Legacy building: She’s making sure the path she cleared doesn't get overgrown with new barriers.
She once famously said, "The greatest challenge I faced in becoming a neurosurgeon was believing it was possible." Now, she spends her time making sure the next generation doesn't have to struggle with that specific belief.
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The Reality of Her Trailblazing Career
To understand why she’s such a big deal, you have to look at the environment she came up in. It wasn't just "hard"—it was hostile.
When she was a student, she had teachers who would literally switch her test scores with white students to hide how smart she was. She and her brother were the only Black kids in their school. Most people would have folded under that kind of psychological weight. Instead, she graduated cum laude from medical school and headed straight into the most intense specialty there is.
Neurosurgery isn't exactly a "low-stress" hobby.
She spent decades dealing with hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), gunshot wounds in toddlers, and complex brain tumors. She even holds a patent for a programmable antisiphon shunt—basically a high-tech tool used to treat brain pressure.
The Michigan Connection
If you're from Michigan, you probably know her name. She’s in the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. For nearly two decades, she was the "go-to" for the most difficult pediatric cases in Detroit.
Her patients loved her because she wasn't just a "brain surgeon"—she was a human being. She made a point to be accessible, to talk to the kids as equals, and to make sure the parents actually understood what was happening behind those scary hospital doors.
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Addressing the Rumors
Sometimes the internet gets a little ahead of itself with "tribute" posts that look a bit like obituaries. You’ve probably seen them—the black-and-white photos with a long caption about her achievements.
While the sentiment is great, it often leads people to think she’s passed away.
But as of 2026, she is very much still with us. She’s living proof that you can fight through systemic bias, have a massive career, and then actually get to enjoy the sunshine and some peace and quiet.
Actionable Takeaways from Dr. Canady’s Journey
If you’re looking into Dr. Canady’s life because you’re a student or just someone looking for a bit of inspiration, here is what you can actually learn from her:
- Confidence is a skill, not a trait. Even a world-renowned neurosurgeon almost dropped out because she lost her nerve. If you’re feeling like an impostor, you’re in good company.
- Service doesn't have a "stop" date. Her "un-retirement" in Florida shows that when you have a skill that can help people, you find ways to use it.
- Representation is structural. She didn't just perform surgeries; she changed the way the medical field looks at Black physicians.
If you want to support the causes she cares about, look into organizations like the Delta Research and Educational Foundation (which her mother helped start) or mentorship programs for Black women in STEM. These are the spaces where her work continues to live and breathe.
She’s lived an incredible life, and honestly, she’s still living it. Next time you see a "Is Alexa Canady still alive?" thread, you can be the one to set the record straight: She’s here, she’s retired, and she’s still the GOAT.