The first successful open heart surgery was performed in 1893 by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, (Jan 18, 1856 – Aug 4, 1931). Residing in Chicago Illinois, Dr. Williams was one of only three black doctors in the city at that time. He graduated from Chicago Medical School at the age of 25 years old.
He started his private practice where his patients were both black and white. During that time, Black doctors were not allowed to work in the hospitals. So in 1891, Dr. Daniel Williams founded Provident Hospital as well as an associate nursing school. Both were founded in answer to the discrimination against Black doctors as well as aspiring Black nursing students. Never selfish in his endeavors, he always looked for how to make it better for other Black doctors during such segregated times. In addition to Provident Hospital, he worked to create more hospitals that were inclusive for Black doctors to work during his entire career.
Dr. Daniel Williams became a professor of Clinical Studies at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1893, President Grover Cleveland appointed Dr. Williams as surgeon-in-chief of Freedman’s Hospital in Washington D.C. He held that position for 5 years. Dr. Williams co-founded National Medical Association for African American doctors in 1895. And in 1913, he was elected as the only Black charter member of American College of Surgeons. He lived to be 75 years old.
“Anything is possible when it’s done in love and everything you can do should be done in love or it will fail.” – Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
