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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
February 10, 2016 Page 9 Black History Month H EALTH Celebrating Black History Black doctor put medicine on new course d r . r Onald T urCO How many of us are familiar with the name of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams? The African Amer- ican physician was one of the most skilled surgeons of his era. In 1893, at Provident Hospital in Chicago, a medical center which he founded, he performed the irst fully successful open heart surgery, including the repair of knife wound on the pericardium. Dr. Williams was born in Hol- lidaysburg, Penn. in 1865. His father was a barber who worked for better conditions for Afri- can American people, started a group called the Equal Rights League, and believed in the val- ue of a good education. He died Dr. Daniel Hale Williams was one of the irst physicians to perform when Daniel was 11. open-heart surgery in the United States and founded a hospital The younger Williams be- with an interracial staff. by Record Signup for Health Care More than 147,000 Oregonians signed up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov during the open enrollment period that ended Jan. 31. Health department oficials said enrollment for 2016 is about 31 percent higher than last year, when about 112,000 people in the state signed up. Oregon had the largest rate of increase in en- rollment of any state that uses HealthCare.gov. Seven out of 10 of those who enrolled this year are receiving tax credits averag- came a barber and had his own shop at age 17. Eventually he was accepted to Janesville Academy, similar to a two year college. Wanting to make peo- ple feel good and have a “noble profession” he apprenticed in 1878 with Dr. Henry Palmer, a leading surgeon. After two years of apprenticeship he needed for- mal medical training but had no money. He borrowed money for the irst two years of medical school and his brother, by this time a practicing attorney, paid for his third year. He received his M.D. degree from Chicago Medical College, afiliated with Northwestern University, in 1883 at the age of 27. Because of his race, Dr. Wil- liams couldn’t work at any hos- pital. He had his irst ofice while volunteering in an orphanage. He worked in patients’ homes and once had to sterilize a pa- tient’s dining room so she could have surgery. He occasionally conducted surgeries on kitchen tables, yet utilized the up-to- date sterilization procedures of his day thus gaining a reputation for professionalism and compe- tence. In 1883 he was only one of four African American doc- tors in the Chicago area and six years later was appointed to the Illinois Board of Health. While there he recommended vaccina- tions for typhoid, scarlet fever and smallpox, fully understand- ing sanitation problems. He started a new hospital, the Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses, especially to help black members of the med- ical profession. He observed that African-American patients were routinely subject to second-class medical care and that opportu- nities for most black physicians were extremely limited. Many African Americans were moving to Chicago and an old building big enough for 12 beds was found. This became the irst hospital with black doctors and nurses, the irst in the coun- ing $256 per month to help pay for premiums. Those who missed open enroll- ment may still be able to get cov- ered. If they experience a quali- fying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage, they can apply for a special enrollment period through HealthCare.gov. Many low-income Oregonians are also eligible for free or low- cost coverage through the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon’s Medicaid program. You can apply for the Oregon Health Plan at any time. C OnTinued On P age 20
