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