Daniel Hale Williams

Daniel Hale Williams, born in 1858,  has been credited with performing the first open heart operation.

An article by W. Montague Cobb in the Journal of the National Medical Association in 1953 (1) records that Williams was famed as the first person to operate on the heart (rather than using the specific phrase "open heart surgery").  Cobb relates that a planned biography of Williams found that there were earlier cases, and as a result that biography was not published.   The heart operation performed by Williams was the suturing of a stab wound to the pericardium, published in 1897 (2).  Another article in the same journal in 1935 records investigations into whether Williams was the first to operate on the heart, investigations related in Cobb's article and involving a search in the Surgeon General's Library, now the National Library of Medicine. 

Williams also founded the first hospital to be run by African Americans, in Chicago, and its associated nursing school, which admitted African American students when other nursing schools would not.   He also cofounded the National Medical Association, a national organisation for African American physicians.    He was also the first African American admitted to the American College of Surgeons.    

References

1. Cobb WM. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. J Natl Med Assoc. 1953;45(5):379-85.  This is in PubMed Central.

2.     Williams DH.  Stab wound of the heart and pericardium: suture of the pericardium, recovery - patient alive three years afterwards.  Medical Record. 1897;51:437.   Available through the Hathi Trust.

Other articles about Daniel Hale Williams

Dr. Daniel Williams takes priority in successful operation for Stab Wound of Human Heart. J Natl Med Assoc. 1935;27(4):162-3.

Daniel Hale Williams Cardiac Operation Priority. J Natl Med Assoc. 1960;52(6):447-9.

Beatty WK. Daniel Hale Williams: innovative surgeon, educator, and hospital administrator. Chest. 1971;60(2):175-82.

Beatty WK. Daniel Hale Williams--pioneer surgeon and hospital administrator. Proc Inst Med Chic. 1979;32(7):156.

Cobb WM. Daniel Hale Williams-Pioneer and Innovator. J Natl Med Assoc. 1944;36(5):158-9.

Gordon RC. Daniel Hale Williams: pioneer Black surgeon and educator. J Invest Surg. 2005;18(3):105-6, cover.

Olivier AF. Classics in thoracic surgery. In proper perspective: Daniel Hale Williams, M.D. Ann Thorac Surg. 1984;37(1):96-7.