The Health Wagon was founded by Sr. Bernie Kenny with the order of Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1980. She started the program when she began dispensing medicines and a kind touch from her VW Beetle. St. Mary's Hospital provided a valuable partnership and sponsored the program for over twenty-five years.  Sr. Bernie turned over the reigns of the organization in December 2005 to Teresa Gardner who had been with The Health Wagon for the past sixteen years.

The Health Wagon continues to strive to meet the unique challenges of health care delivery to the medically under-served and indigent in poverty-stricken areas of rural Appalachia. Through the use of this innovative mobile health unit, health care doors are opened to many needy individuals, families, and communities; doors that would have otherwise remained closed. The Health Wagon is staffed by two certified family nurse practitioners, three licensed practical nurses, and three office staff. The Health Wagon visits eight sites in Southwest Virginia's Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Wise counties on a weekly, biweekly, and monthly basis. Accessibility to culturally sensitive primary health care services that emphasize education and prevention is considered the key to improving the health status for populations residing in these rural areas. Services are rendered free of charge; however, donations are encouraged and accepted.