Dr. Daniel Hale Williams

Provident Hospital was established on January 22, 1891 by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, as the nation’s first African-American owned hospital. Dr. Williams would later be noted for doing the nation’s first open heart surgery. Its doors closed in the 1980’s. Recognizing the importance of providing quality health care to Chicago’s South Side, the Cook County Government purchased the facility in 1990. Provident Medical Center opened to address the need for better access to health care for all residents of Cook County. Located at 500 East 51st Street, Provident Hospital is in a unique position to serve its culturally diverse community. All are provided quality medical care regardless of the ability to pay.