Daniel Hale Williams

Early Life

Daniel Hale Williams was born in 1856 and raised in the city of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.

Family Life

He grew up with 5 sisters and 1 brother. Williams was the eldest of 6. His parents were Daniel Hale Williams Jr. and Sarah Price Williams. His family grew up with many challenges, such as poverty and racial discrimination in the small town of Holidaysburg. When he was ten, his dad passed due to tuberculosis symptoms.

Education & Career

During his early years, Williams attended public school. Soon after, he graduated from high school, and he began working as an apprentice to Henry W. Palmer in medicine for 2 years. Later he was accepted into Chicago Medical College, now known as Northwestern University Medical School. After school, he opened his own hospital, Provident Hospital.

Impact on the field

In 1893, Williams became the first African American on record to have successfully performed pericardium surgery to repair a wound. Williams shaped the world of surgery; in other words, he made history. Today the pericardium procedure is possible. It is a potentially life-saving mechanism. Many lives would be lost without his dedication. All that Williams did was to help others succeed. He was determined to change the world, and that he did.

What are three interesting facts about this person?

He was the first person on record to perform pericardium surgery.
Before medicine, Williams was a barber and a shoemaker.
Daniel once said, "A people who don't make provision for their own sick and suffering are not worthy of civilization."

What are three words you could use to describe this person?

Intelligent: He was very smart throughout his life.
Determined: Williams never stopped trying.
Admirable: Many people still look up to him today.

Works cited:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Hale_Williams
https://www.sparknotes.com/search?q=Daniel%20hale%20williams
https://www.google.com/search?q=daniel+hale+williams

Made by:

Skye W.
Lory W.

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