Dr. Smith had been a doctor for several years before moving to Claiborne County and starting his practice.

Dr. William Smith grew up in Harlan, Kentucky but at the young age of fourteen, he moved to Harrogate with his family where he attended Powell Valley High School.

He went into the service for a period and when he came out, he knew he wanted to be in a professional career of some sort but could not put his finger on what it would be. He said he recalls a time in high school when he cut his finger, saw blood, and fainted after this he never thought he could become a doctor.

“My father always wanted me to become a doctor,” Dr. Smith recalls, “So, I went to watch someone get embalmed and was fine and that’s when I decided that I could become a doctor.”

Dr. Smith attended Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate before attending University of Tennessee Memphis Medical School. After completing medical school, he returned to Harlan where he worked for seven and a half years.

Claiborne County started out with two doctors, Dr. Ray and Dr. Evans and both saw a need for another doctor and began their search.

In May of 1959, Dr. Smith moved to Claiborne County where an office was already waiting for him.

In February of 1960, Dr. Evans passed away and Dr. Smith, who became known as “Doc” began seeing an overwhelming number of patients. It became so overwhelming to him that he called his wife, Nancy for help.

Nancy, who was born and raised in Claiborne County, came to help and has been by his side helping in any way that she could ever since.

In November of 1960, Dr. Ray passed away increasing Doc’s practice even more and he remained the only doctor for several years after that.

Dr. Smith saw many changes over the years, “You become so used to working without things like MRI’s and such and then they become available to you and you adjust your work for them.”

He has been on the hospital staff since it opened and is still on staff there but he does not do as much up there as he used to.

“I go up there occasionally but my partners do most of the work up there,” Dr. Smith said.

His partners in his medical practice include, Dr. Pannocchia, Dr. Debusk, Dr. Deaton and Ashley Blevins, a Physicians Assistant and Gary Brown a Nurse Practitioner.

“When I first started out all you had was one nurse and eventually the rules and regulations changed so much that it required more help,” said Dr. Smith, “It just steadily grew until the practice is what it is today.”

He said that he has been so impressed by the work the Chamber of Commerce has done and how the hospital has continued to grow and gives credit to them for his great work experience.

Looking back, he says that he has delivered about 2,500 babies and out of some babies, those now have grandchildren.

“It’s a gratifying experience and I’ve been truly blessed,” Dr. Smith says, “I feel that if you trust God you will be satisfied and you will be gratified and I know that’s why I’m still here.”

When asked about retirement Dr. Smith said, “I don’t look forward to retirement but you have to realize that life is no guarantee and that we will not live forever.”

On Thursday, August 6th during their lunch break employee of Heartland Medical Center and members of the community gathered in the banquet hall of the practice to celebrate Doc’s 50 years of dedicated service to Claiborne County.

“I’m proud to work with him, it’s truly amazing working with Dr. Smith,” Dr. Pannocchia said, “I hope there are many more years to come.”

They celebrated with food and cake and Dr. Smith said that he has never been more surprised.

“When I came in today, I just thought I was here to work,” he said, “If I knew that people were going to be here then I would have dressed up a little more.”

The staff would like to thank Dr. William N. Smith for his 50 years of dedicated service to this community and look forward to many more.