Provident Hospital, located in Chicago, Illinois, holds an important place in Black history as the first African American-owned and operated hospital in the United States. It was founded in 1891 by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a pioneering African American surgeon who also performed one of the first successful open-heart surgeries in the world at Provident Hospital in 1893.

The hospital provided a crucial space for African American doctors and nurses to practice medicine at a time when segregation and discrimination barred them from working in white-owned hospitals. Provident Hospital played a significant role in advancing medical care for Black patients and training Black medical professionals. It also served as a hub for the Black community in Chicago, providing essential healthcare services and serving as a center for civic engagement and advocacy.

The legacy of Provident Hospital as a trailblazer in healthcare equality and representation continues to inspire generations of Black medical professionals and serves as a reminder of the resilience and perseverance of African Americans in the face of systemic racism and adversity.