Dr. Nathan Mossell was born in Ontario, Canada in July of 1856. The family returned to the United States during the Civil War and he and his five siblings completed their early education in upstate New York. After graduating from Lincoln University in 1879, he entered the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated 2nd in his class in 1882, the first African American to earn a medical degree from Penn.
Due to the difficulties that African Americans faced in securing residency training in the United States, Dr. Mossell travelled to England to complete his internship at The Guy's, Queens College, and St. Thomas Hospitals in London. After completing his training, he returned to Philadelphia and became a prominent member of the minority medical community.
In 1888, he became the first African American Physician to be elected to the Philadelphia County Medical Society. He was a founder and director of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP. In August of 1895, he spearheaded the creation of Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School - the second African American Hospital in the United States. Dr. Mossell's vision was that Douglass Memorial Hospital would not only treat African American patients, but also offer post-graduate training to young minority doctors and nurses. Dr. Mossell worked for over 35 years as the hospital's chief-of-staff and medical director, retiring in 1933. He continued his private medical practice until shortly before his death in October of 1946.
Frederick Douglass Hospital merged with Mercy Hospital, another predominantly African American Hospital, in 1948. Mercy-Douglass continued its care of African American Philadelphians until its closing in 1973.
Due to the difficulties that African Americans faced in securing residency training in the United States, Dr. Mossell travelled to England to complete his internship at The Guy's, Queens College, and St. Thomas Hospitals in London. After completing his training, he returned to Philadelphia and became a prominent member of the minority medical community.
In 1888, he became the first African American Physician to be elected to the Philadelphia County Medical Society. He was a founder and director of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP. In August of 1895, he spearheaded the creation of Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School - the second African American Hospital in the United States. Dr. Mossell's vision was that Douglass Memorial Hospital would not only treat African American patients, but also offer post-graduate training to young minority doctors and nurses. Dr. Mossell worked for over 35 years as the hospital's chief-of-staff and medical director, retiring in 1933. He continued his private medical practice until shortly before his death in October of 1946.
Frederick Douglass Hospital merged with Mercy Hospital, another predominantly African American Hospital, in 1948. Mercy-Douglass continued its care of African American Philadelphians until its closing in 1973.