Biography of Teresa Tyson Dr. Teresa Owens Gardner Tyson, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, FAANP President and CEO, St. Mary’s Health Wagon
Transforming Healthcare in Central Appalachia Born a coal miner's daughter in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, Dr. Teresa Tyson's life is a story of resilience, resourcefulness, and a relentless pursuit of healthcare equity. Growing up amidst the grinding poverty that overshadows the Appalachian Mountains, she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of limited healthcare access on her community. Families often faced impossible choices between basic necessities and medical care, a reality that shaped her future mission. Today, as President and CEO of St. Mary's Health Wagon (Health Wagon), Dr. Tyson leads transformative healthcare initiatives that provide hope and healing to one of America's most underserved regions.
Visionary Leadership at the Health Wagon Dr. Tyson helms the Health Wagon, the oldest mobile free-nurse-managed health clinic in the nation, serving the uninsured and underinsured in rural Appalachian Virginia. The organization champions excellence, accessibility, empathy, community outreach, collaboration, spirituality, and empowerment through an expanding network of healthcare services.