Dr. Joseph F. Smiddy, the longtime Health Director for the Health Wagon was recently presented with the “Appalachian Hero Award” during a ceremony at the health provider’s Smiddy Clinic on Patriot Drive in Wise, Va. Don Green with the Napolean Hill Foundation presented the award during an employee and volunteer appreciation event.
“Thank you so much for this award, the special day, your comments, and the amazing large crowd who attended to share in the joy,” said Smiddy in a note to Tyson and Collins.

“We wanted to honor Dr. Smiddy for his extraordinary leadership and contributions toward improving access to care for vulnerable Southwest Virginians,” said Health Wagon President and CEO Dr. Teresa Tyson, DNP, FNP-BC. “He so deserves the recognition for his many years of service to Health Wagon.

Dr. Smiddy, a U.S. Navy Veteran, is also Vice President, Appalachian Miles For Smiles dental charity, Clinical Professor at the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. and Clinical Professor, ETSU Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, Tenn.
“Dr. Smiddy, a retired pulmonologist, has been an unwavering source of inspiration to both us personally and the people of Central Appalachia, dedicating over 50 years of his life to serving communities in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Kentucky,” said Dr. Paula Hill Collins, DNP, FNP-BC, PCPNP-BC, FAANP, a dually certified family and pediatric nurse practitioner, and Vice President and Chief Clinical Director of the Health Wagon. “From driving a tractor-trailer equipped with portable chest X-ray equipment to performing X-rays out of the back of his pickup truck during devastating floods, his dedication and compassionate care have left an indelible mark on the region and on all who have had the privilege of knowing him.”
In addition to his highly regarded pulmonology career, Dr. Smiddy is also well known in Southwest Va. for his talents with a guitar. He learned his talents from his father, Dr. Joseph C. “Papa Joe” Smiddy, an old-time banjo player and bluegrass musician. Dr. Smiddy has played at the Carter Fold for years including a November 2024 benefit concert for the Health Wagon and its outreach to the Hurricane Helene survivors in Damascus.
Dr. Smiddy holds both undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. He performed his post graduate education, including a fellowship in pulmonary disease from the University of Kansas.
Dr. Smiddy is active at First Broad Street United Methodist Church and Shades of Grace. He and his wife Liz have four children and six grandchildren.
The Health Wagon, a nurse practitioner-managed clinic established in 1980, provides free medical, dental, pharmacy, and vision services to underserved communities in Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Washington and Russell Counties, as well as the City of Norton. For more information, please call 276-328-8850 or visit www.thehealthwagon.org. To donate to The Health Wagon, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, please visit: www.thehealthwagon.org/donate.