Kyles Ford is located on the Clinch River near the Virginia border. As the crow flies, it is due south of St. Charles and east of Sneedville, other communities where the Coalition conducted health fairs. Its geology renders it remote, however, access by roads and a bridge sometimes compromised. Its very remoteness has since rendered it a protected habitat for certain species, much of the land now managed by the Nature Conservancy and the Tennessee Natural Wildlife Resources Agency.
In addition to nearby Alanthus Hill and Sneedville, the Coalition conducted health fairs in Kyles Ford during the summers of 1971 and 1972. All are communities in Hancock County. In the 1971-1972 Annual Report, students articulate concerns about ongoing issues of access to health care, and a frustrating sense of futility in conducting health fairs which identify clinical issues that still could not be addressed locally. The students felt strongly that as regards health care, the issue of inaccessibility far outweighed issues of class or poverty.
During the year, local community leaders came together to form a health council, with the hope that a long-term relationship with Vanderbilt Medical Center might alleviate access issues.
See the 1971 and 1972 SHC Annual Reports for more information.