Final answer:
The first medical schools were associated with universities, specifically catering to the elite and privileged. For African Americans, discrimination led to the creation of their own medical colleges and hospitals, such as Howard University's medical department and Provident Hospital. Financial challenges and lack of support were common issues faced by these Black institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first medical schools were not operated by state governments or hospitals; they were often a facet of higher learning institutions affiliated with universities. Known to serve the privileged members of society and train individuals for certain professions such as medicine, law, or theology, these universities offered a curriculum that upheld tradition. However, for African Americans, the situation was markedly different, as most medical schools refused their admittance. Consequently, hospitals like Provident Hospital founded by Black physicians in 1891, and medical colleges like Howard University's medical department established in 1868, became the pioneering institutions that provided medical training and services to the Black community.
Issues such as financial constraints due to little patient fee collection and the lack of governmental aid presented significant challenges to Black medical institutions. Despite these hurdles, medical colleges like Howard University and Meharry Medical College survived the Flexner Report's scrutiny and maintained their operations after other Black medical schools were forced to close. The establishment of professional organizations like the National Medical Association in 1895 and the National Association of Colored Nurses in 1908 played a crucial role in upholding medical standards and creating opportunities for African-American professionals in the healthcare field.