Paula Hill- Collins
Paula Hill-Collins is a dedicated healthcare leader, nurse practitioner, and advocate for underserved communities, currently serving as Vice President and Clinical Director at St. Mary’s Health Wagon in Wise, Virginia. With more than 25 years of experience in rural healthcare, she has built a career centered on expanding access to quality, patient-centered care. In her role, she oversees a complex healthcare system that includes multiple stationary clinics, mobile units, telehealth operations, a pharmacy, and a dental clinic—delivering comprehensive services such as behavioral health, mental health, vision, dental, and primary care to communities across Appalachia.
Throughout her career, Paula has held a range of leadership and academic positions, including Director of Nursing and clinical faculty roles at the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also contributed her expertise through service on the board of a nonprofit mobile medical clinic. For the past 17 years at the Health Wagon, she has led innovative approaches to care delivery, integrating outreach programs, social support networks, and emerging technologies such as telehealth, Starlink connectivity, and AI-enabled remote diagnostics to reach patients in even the most remote areas. Her work reflects a deep commitment to addressing not only medical needs but also the social determinants of health that impact overall well-being.
Among her most meaningful accomplishments is the creation of a large-scale back-to-school outreach event, launched in honor of her son. What began as a small initiative serving 400 children has grown into a transformative community effort supporting over 2,000 children in just four hours, providing free clothing, shoes, and backpacks to families in need. Driven by compassion and purpose, Paula continues to advocate for scalable, innovative models of care and is passionate about expanding her work nationally and internationally. She is also a recognized leader in her field, having been named Rural Health Practitioner of the Year, and continues to share her expertise on global stages, including the World Congress in Nursing.
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
• Certified Mental Health Professional
• The University of Alabama- D.N.P.
• University of Kentucky- M.S.N.
• East Tennessee State University- B.S.N.
• YWCA Northeastern Region Tribute to Women Award (2026)
• National Practitioner of the Year Award (2019)
• Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners Nurse Practitioner Advocate Award (2019)
• National Association of Nonprofits Excellence in Nonprofit Governing Award (2024)
• National Rural Health Provider of year
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
• Lions Club
• Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
• International Mobile Medical Association
• Church involvement
• Annual back-to-school event providing free clothes
• Shoes
• And backpacks to over 2
• 000 children
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother, who was very encouraging. She was an educator, and she pushed hard, making both my brother and me always strive to do more. It was her influence that shaped me. She taught me, along with my grandmother, to do missionary work in your own backyard, to look after your fellow man and neighbor, and to look after those who may be struggling or are in a disadvantaged moment, whether from growing up in poverty or needing food. That's what I was raised to do - if you see someone in need, you go and you take care of them. And then, by the grace and favor of God.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice Paula has received is to remain grounded in her purpose and never lose sight of why she started—remembering that healthcare is about service first helps her navigate even the most complex challenges.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women to realize it's a commitment, that it is difficult, and that as a woman, you have to be more courageous and stronger. Even though nursing is a female-dominated profession, when working with the interdisciplinary teams, you have to really have the courage to be bold and stand up for your patients and for yourself. There is so much opportunity in nursing to grow - it's one profession where you can go in any direction you want, no matter what specialty. Whether you want to do dermatology and aesthetics, ER, OR, or anything else, it's a wide open field. With the healthcare professional shortage, there is tremendous opportunity for women and young people to really grow, not only in the healthcare industry, but especially in the nursing industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are all the changes in healthcare, trying to get through the red tape and seeing the unnecessary challenges that a lot of patients face who have insurance - you have to go through all the hoops to get them the care that they need. That's a big barrier. And then there are those who have no insurance and work just enough to where they do not qualify for any government assistance either. On the opportunity side, I think the opportunities are endless in nursing to grow. It's one profession where you can go in any direction you want, no matter what specialty. Whether you want to do dermatology and aesthetics, ER, OR, or anything else, it's wide open. There is so much opportunity and so much need, with such a healthcare professional shortage. There is tremendous opportunity for women and young people to really grow, not only in the healthcare industry, but especially in the nursing industry.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My spiritual life with God comes first, then my family - my daughter and husband. The values of integrity and service mean a lot to me. I have a saying, I think it was from Mother Teresa, that the only way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others, and that's kind of how I live. Service means a lot to me, being able to give back, because I really feel like life here is short, so what we have here and what we give here is going to be what goes with us. It's not what we leave behind, it's only what we can do for others. I come from a very deeply religious faith background, and I always wanted to do missionary work. My grandmother and mother both taught me to do missionary work in your own backyard, to look after your fellow man and neighbor, and to look after those who may be struggling or are in a disadvantaged moment.