The Health Wagon’s mission is to provide compassionate, quality health care to the medically underserved people in the Mountains of Appalachia. Our values are inclusiveness, community outreach, collaboration, spirituality, and empowerment.

Forty years ago, Sister Bernadette Kenny of the Catholic Order Medical Missionaries of Mary began what is now known as the Health Wagon. At that time, Sister “Bernie,” as she is most affectionately known, traveled on rural mountain roads in her Volkswagen Beetle to deliver health care to individuals in the mountainous region of southwest Virginia. The Health Wagon is the oldest mobile clinic in the nation. The Health Wagon hosts the largest health outreach of its kind in the nation (formerly Wise Remote Area Medical) and was an instrumental partner in the first ever FAA approved drone delivery of medications in the United States, in partnership with Flirty, NASA Langley and others. The historic drone has been inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The Health Wagon does not bill for services and is sustained by grants, and donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. The Health Wagon visits thirteen sites in southwest Virginia and has two stationary clinics. The Health Wagon serves the medically underserved in far southwest Virginia with primary, specialty, dental and vision care. In 2021, the Health Wagon served 10,857 unduplicated patients and documented over 35,250 visits/encounters. The Health Wagon has garnered notable recognition including interviews from media that include: 60 Minutes, Nightline, CBS Nightly News, Inside Edition, Washington Post, New York Times along with other extensive media attention, including international press, regarding efforts to provide access to health care to the poor and marginalized in the Appalachian region. The Health Wagon has presented at United Nations and the World Health Organization multiple times. The Health Wagon is led by President and CEO, Dr. Teresa Tyson. Tyson leads the clinic in promoting the mission of providing quality, affordable, accessible care to all with an emphasis on serving the medically underserved.