From Military Service to Holistic Care, Shawn Blankenship FNP Offers Insight into Purpose-Driven Leadership and Patient-Centered Medicine
CHARLESTON, WV / ACCESS Newswire / April 21, 2025 / Family Nurse Practitioner and Medical Director Shawn Blankenship is featured in an exclusive online interview titled "From the Navy to Holistic Healing: A Conversation with Shawn Blankenship, FNP," where he opens up about his life, career, and the deeper purpose behind his work in healthcare. The in-depth feature captures his journey from humble beginnings and military service to founding Holistic Medical Services and Counseling in Charleston, West Virginia.
In the interview, Blankenship discusses the life experiences that shaped his values, including growing up in a single-parent household and serving in the U.S. Navy. These foundational moments, he explains, laid the groundwork for his approach to care-one that combines discipline, empathy, and practical problem-solving.
"It taught me early on that you've got to show up for people, even when it's hard," Blankenship shares.
His path to becoming a nurse practitioner was far from conventional. Returning to school later in life, Shawn graduated with honors from St. Mary's Nursing School, followed by degrees from Marshall University and Chamberlain School of Nursing. He emphasizes how grit, not speed, defined his academic and professional achievements.
"I was older than most of my classmates, but I knew what I wanted. I wasn't doing this for status. I was doing it to serve," he says.
In 2018, Blankenship launched Holistic, Inc., a practice that brings together medical and counseling services under one roof to treat the whole person. With a commitment to patient-centered care, he's built a space that prioritizes both physical and emotional well-being.
He adds, "I kept seeing patients fall through the cracks. They'd come in for physical symptoms, but it was clear there was more going on-stress, trauma, life stuff. I wanted to build something that didn't separate the two."
Beyond healthcare, Shawn discusses how he finds balance through running, golf, real estate investing, and spending time with his wife Julie and daughter Clara. He also speaks on his support for battered women's shelters and the importance of quiet leadership in building strong communities.
The full feature offers a rare look into the life of a healthcare leader who believes success comes from consistency, humility, and showing up with intention.
About Shawn Blankenship, FNP
Shawn Blankenship is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Medical Director based in Charleston, WV. He is the founder of Holistic Medical Services and Counseling, a practice focused on integrated care that addresses both physical and mental health. A U.S. Navy veteran, Shawn is committed to providing compassionate, patient-first care and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
To read the full interview, click here.
Contact: info@shawnblankenship.com
SOURCE: Shawn Blankenship FNP
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
