Ten years earlier, Williams was one of the first
African-Americans to graduate from medical school,
earning a degree from Chicago Medical
College/Northwestern University. He opened his practice
at 3034 South Michigan Avenue. Seeing the need for a
hospital where black interns, nurses and physicians could
train, Williams founded Provident Hospital, the first hospital
in America established and fully controlled by blacks. It
opened in 1891.

In 1894, Williams was appointed chief surgeon at Freedmen’s Hospital
in Washington, D.C. Here he established another school for
African-American nurses and founded an organization of black
physicians. He returned to Provident Hospital in 1898. From 1907 until
his death, he was associate attending surgeon at St. Luke’s Hospital.

“Dr. Dan” traveled throughout the nation devising and demonstrating
surgical techniques and establishing training programs for interns and
nurses. His efforts led to the opening of schools and hospitals in over
30 cities. “Dr. Dan” lived on 445 East 42nd Street from
1905 to 1929.