More than just a clinic, the Owens and Hill Dental Health Clinic represents a movement for equity—delivering healthy smiles and holistic care across Central Appalachia.Our story begins more than two and a half decades ago, when Dr. Teresa Owens Tyson, DNP and Sr. Bernie Kenny brought the very first Remote Area Medical (RAM) event to Wise County, Virginia. This groundbreaking effort marked the beginning of atradition of compassion and innovation in rural health care. During our 20th-year celebration, the event had served more than 100,000 patients—most seekingdesperately needed dental care—over three-day summer events that continue to this
day. From those early efforts, the Virginia Dental Association Foundation’s Mission of Mercy (MOM) projects were born. Inspired by the overwhelming need witnessed at RAM Wise,the MOM model grew to become an impactful outreach program, expanding far beyond our community to serve thousands of patients annually across Virginia.
As these events demonstrated the urgent need for oral health care, the Health Wagon began working toward a more permanent, year-round presence.
Our first dental service was a single chair placed inside the medical clinic in Wise, led by our founding dentist, Dr. Gerald Kelly, a retired public health dentist with the Virginia Department of Health.
He and his assistants—his wife, Mary Margaret, and Debbie Mullins—faithfully volunteered to provide weekly clinics for uninsured patients. This small but powerful beginning ensured that even after the large-scale summer events ended, patients in Southwest Virginia could continue receiving essential dental care. When Dr. Kelly retired, a new chapter began. Appalachian Miles for Smiles partnered with the Health Wagon to expand access by bringing a five-bay mobile dental clinic, dramatically increasing our reach. At the same time, we welcomed Dr. Olivia Stallard, a
Wise County native and newly graduated dentist. Licensed in 2020, Dr. Stallard faithfully served her community with compassion and skill through 2024, helping bridge the gap between mobile outreach and the dream of a permanent dental home.
That dream became a reality in 2023 with the opening of the Owens and Hill Dental Health Clinic—the first free-standing, free dental clinic in the region. With 10 chairs, state-of-the-art technology, and a 3D denture lab, the clinic now provides comprehensive care—cleanings, fillings, crowns, extractions, oral surgery, oral cancer screenings, pediatric services, tele-dentistry, and affordable dentures—on a scale never before possible in Southwest Virginia. Since opening, we have quadrupled the number of patient visits, with special focus on women, children, diabetics with oral health issues, and those who have never had access to care. With Medicaid outreach and enrollment assistance, we ensure that cost and coverage are never barriers.
The journey from a single chair to today’s state-of-the-art clinic reflects tireless advocacy and the unwavering dedication of countless individuals. Each step forward testifies to the power of community, innovation, and compassion. The transition from mobile clinics to a permanent facility was not simply about expanding space—it was about deepening our promise to serve all, regardless of circumstance. As the clinic’s walls rose and its rooms filled with the hum of advanced equipment, so too did hope rise in the hearts of families who had long gone without essential care. Outreach events became year-round services. Children who had never seen a dentist,
elders living with chronic pain, and neighbors whose smiles were hidden by shame nowfound dignity, relief, and trust within our doors. The impact reaches far beyond the dental chair. With modern technology, procedures
once requiring hours of travel are now available in the heart of Appalachia. The leadership and vision of the founding team—joined by volunteers, donors, and partners—transformed a dream into a beacon of wellness and equity. This progress would not have been possible without the dental committee vision of Dr. Teresa Owens Tyson and Dr. Paula Hill Collins, who spearheaded the efforts to make the clinic a reality. Alongside leaders like Dr. Joe Smiddy, they believed deeply in transforming lives—not only by addressing immediate needs but also by igniting a broader movement for health equity across Appalachia.
Partnerships with educational institutions have brought aspiring dentists, hygienists, and students to the front lines of care, while community organizations and volunteers have provided essential support. Together, they have woven a safety net for the most vulnerable, breaking down financial, geographic, and social barriers. Today, the clinic operates as a hybrid model, remaining true to its charitable mission while also expanding access through Medicaid participation—creating a sustainable pathway to ensure no one is left without dental care. Esteemed providers like Dr. Neal
Hollyfield, a renowned oral surgeon, and Dr. Antonio Ambas, known for his
compassionate chair-side manner, also contribute their expertise eriodically to meet the region’s complex oral health needs. Strong partnerships—with the Debra K. Howe Family Foundation, the Rapha Foundation, Michael Quillen, Appalachian Miles for Smiles, Mountain Empire Transit’s METGo! service,(so many more) and educational collaborations with Virginia ommonwealth University,
Lincoln Memorial University College of Dental Medicine (dental hygiene), and Mountain Empire Community College—have expanded access and trained the next generation of providers to serve in Appalachia’s dental deserts. Each milestone achieved strengthens our philosophy of inclusivity and resilience. What began as temporary outreach has evolved into a sustained movement—rooted in collective efforts, long standing relationships, trust, and shared purpose. The Owens and Hill Dental Health Clinic proudly carries forward the legacy of Pauline Funk Owens and Mattie Ella Hill—two selfless Appalachian women whose lives of giving inspired its name.
Together, we are transforming lives—restoring health, renewing dignity, and rekindling hope…one smile at a time.
