Black History Month

Lansing native Dr. Alexa Canady, became the first female African American neurosurgeon in the U.S. in 1981. Canady served as chief of neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan for 14 years. She also served as a Professor of Neurosurgery at Wayne State University, where her research led to the development of an anti-siphon shunt that helps treat hydrocephalus. Canady’s pioneering work and dedication to the medical field earned her an induction into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1989 and the American Medical Women’s Association President’s Award in 1993. 

Dr. William Augustus Hinton (1883-1959) is a prominent figure in the medical field for becoming the first African American Physician to publish a textbook and the first African American professor at Harvard University. He is also internationally known for developing a method for detecting syphilis called the “Hinton Test.”

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895) shattered boundaries by becoming the first Black woman in the U.S. to become a physician. Crumpler specialized in treating women and children, provided medical care to freed slaves, and wrote a book in 1883, making her the only published female physician author in the 19th century. 

UM Health-Sparrow Health System and hospitals around the world continue to experience the legacies that live on through the medical leadership of individuals like Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950), who is known as the “father of blood banking” because of his pioneering blood preservation and transfusion techniques. He led the first American Red Cross Blood Bank and advocated for the fair and equal treatment of blood storage from white and black donors. Drew also worked hard to support young African Americans pursuing careers in the medical field. 

Dr. LaKeeya Tucker made history in 2020 as the first African American to be elected to serve a two-year term as Chief of Staff Elect for UM Health-Sparrow Hospital. And in 2022, she became UM Health-Sparrow Hospital’s Chief of Staff.

Dr. Tucker earned her undergraduate degree in biology, chemistry, and math from Youngstown State University and her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pa.

After medical school, Dr. Tucker relocated to Michigan and did her intern and residency training at St. John Detroit Riverview and Macomb Hospital in the Detroit area. She then became a partner at Alliance OB/GYN in East Lansing where she has practiced for the last 19.5 years. During this time, she has maintained full privileges at UM Health-Sparrow Hospital and is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also a clinical associate professor for Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine and College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Tucker is very active in community service in the Greater Lansing area, including serving as medical director for the “It’s a Breast Thing” program, a non-profit organization that provides funding to breast cancer survivors who can’t afford their out-of-pocket costs, and as one of the physician leaders of a free annual cervical cancer screening program at Alliance OB/Gyn, “Pap-O-Rama Saturday.”

Dr. Tucker aspires to continue making a difference in the lives of others through education about being healthy, and continually giving back to those who are in need.

Alane Laws-Barker, M.D., has a passion for the health of women and children. She is employed by UM Health-Sparrow Women’s Health and serves as Lead OB/Gyn at the Ingham County Health Department Women’s Health Services.  Her goal is to create an environment where all people are able to receive and give the best quality healthcare, and her mission is to empower people as they engage the healthcare system. Dr. Laws-Barker believes that health is wealth, and that healthcare should reflect diversity not only in the patient population but also in those who provide care, as well.

Dr. Laws-Barker’s clinical faculty appointments include: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and College of Nursing, University of Michigan, Grand Valley State University, and Central Michigan University.  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed her to the Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect.   

Dr. Laws-Barker is very active in the community. Her leadership roles include Chair, Citizen’s Review Panel Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect; and Co-Chair, Business and Economic Development Committee Mayor’s Economic Restart Committee. She serves on the board of March of Dimes, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Lansing Chapter Jack and Jill of America Inc. She serves as a mentor for students from elementary through medical training.

Lansing Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity recently recognized her as a 2019 Woman of Achievement for her service to the community and her profession.

Brandon Francis, M.D., serves as Executive Medical Director of Physician Performance for UM Health-Sparrow Health System and as an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology at Michigan State University.

He has a unique background, having trained in a combined internal medicine and psychiatry residency, followed by completing active duty with the United States Army. He served both domestically and abroad, caring for patients with acute psychiatric symptoms. His military experience increased his interest in traumatic brain injury.

Dr. Francis is involved in numerous professional organizations and among the honors he’s received are the Pine Rest Michigan State University Residency Teaching Award and the Mercy Health Physician Appreciation Award.

Albert B. Ross, M.D., is a founding partner of the Michigan Gastroenterology Institute and the Digestive Health Institute, is section chief for UM Health-Sparrow Gastroenterology, and consults with the UM Health-Sparrow Outpatient Endoscopy at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing Center. He is a member of the UM Health-Sparrow Physicians Hall of Fame.

Dr. Ross has served important governance roles at UM Health-Sparrow Hospital, including as a board member of UM Health-Sparrow Physicians Health Plan and helping to create Sparrow Care Network. He is currently a member of the SCN Quality Advisory Committee.

He has practiced clinical gastroenterology for 26 years and served as a teacher/mentor for numerous students, residents, and fellows.

Dr. Michael K. McLeod serves as Chief of Medical Staff for Lansingin Lansing and has been a leader in educating medical students and assuring the highest standards of quality in local health care. Although originally from New York, Dr. McLeod has spent many years in our Great Lakes State.  His first “Michigan experience” was in Ann Arbor for his surgical residency.  He later returned to live in Kalamazoo, where he was Program Director for Michigan State University’s Integrated General Surgery Program at the Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies 2001 to 2009.

Dr. McLeod joined the staff of MSU’s Department of Surgery in 2009 and joined the medical staff of UM Health-Sparrow that year. He specializes in seeing endocrine and general surgery patients and serves as a professor of surgery at MSU. Dr. McLeod has received numerous awards for teaching and advocating for patient safety and quality. Dr. McLeod went to medical school at Cornell, trained in General Surgery at the University of Michigan, and did a research fellowship in endocrine surgery at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital.  He has a long and distinguished track record as an endocrine surgeon and a surgical educator, including the publication of numerous papers on both subjects.