| Daniel Hale Williams |
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Daniel Hale Williams was born January 18, 1856 in the city of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Daniel went to college at Northwestern University and in 1883 received his M.D. Daniel was a known surgeon on the South Side Dispensary in Chicago. Hes often referred to as the first African American to successfully operate on a heart. He was a cardiologist surgeon in Chicago. Mr. Williams was aware of the fact that there was no where for doctors or nurses to be trained at so he organized the Provident Hospital and started the training school for nurses in Chicago, Illinois. The Hospital went down in history as having the first successful open heart surgery performed there by Daniel. In 1893 Mr. Williams was appointed surgeon-in-chief at the Freedmans Hospital in Washington, D.C. Once again Williams went in and organized the hospital. Then he established a training school for African American nurses. This was again giving them a place to be able to learn their skills. He wanted to create more hospitals for African Americans since this was a time when they were not allowed in. He wanted to make sure not only could they eventually work at the hospitals, but they would have a place to get their schooling. In 1895 he co-founded the National Medical Association for African American doctors. Mr. Williamss last accomplishment was in 1913 when he became the only black charter member in the American College of Surgeons. After a very successful career and breaking ground for African Americans in various hospitals, Mr. Williams had a stroke. He was in Idlewild, Michigan in 1931 when he had the stroke and passed away. Mr. Williams has since been honored by Stevie Wonder in a song. Then in 2002 he was listed on the 100 Greatest African Americans by Molefi Asante. |
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