From the Navy to Holistic Healing: A Conversation with Shawn Blankenship, FNP

Shawn Blankenship is not your typical nurse practitioner. He’s a Navy veteran, a medical director, a business owner, and someone who’s faced his share of struggle. But behind his accomplishments, there’s a quiet strength. A story that shows how purpose, hard work, and empathy can reshape not only your life, but the lives of those around you.

I spoke with Shawn from his office in Charleston, West Virginia, where he runs Holistic Medical Services and Counseling. He’s calm, down-to-earth, and thoughtful. When he talks about healthcare, you can tell he’s not just talking about medicine—he’s talking about people.

Early Life and a Path to Service

Shawn grew up in a single-parent home. Life wasn’t always easy. But it shaped him.

“It made me stronger,” he says. “It taught me early on that you’ve got to show up for people, even when it’s hard.”

After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy. Serving in the military gave him a sense of discipline and clarity. It also sparked his interest in healthcare.

“Being in the Navy showed me how important good care is. People trust you with their lives. That stuck with me,” he says.

The Long Road Through Nursing

After the Navy, Shawn made a big decision. He went back to school—first to St. Mary’s Nursing School, where he became class president and graduated with honors. Then Marshall University, and finally, the Chamberlain School of Nursing, where he earned his Family Nurse Practitioner degree in 2015.

He didn’t follow the straightest path. But that’s part of what makes his story matter.

“I was older than most of my classmates,” he tells me. “But I knew what I wanted. I wasn’t doing this for status. I was doing it to serve.”

He adds, “There were times I was working full time and going to school full time. You learn how to stretch yourself.”

Starting Holistic Medical Services

In 2018, Shawn founded Holistic, Inc. The idea was simple: bring medical and counseling services together. Treat the whole person, not just their symptoms.

“I kept seeing patients fall through the cracks,” he says. “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.”

Today, his practice in Charleston blends primary care with counseling support. It’s a space that tries to meet people where they are, not where the system expects them to be.

“I’m not here to lecture anyone,” Shawn says. “I just want to listen and help.”

Quiet Leadership

He doesn’t talk much about titles or status. But he’s clearly a leader.

As Medical Director, he oversees the clinical side of the practice while still seeing patients. He’s also active in mentoring younger professionals and supporting local causes.

One of his biggest causes is a battered women’s shelter.

“Those are the people who need support the most,” he says. “Sometimes they come to us scared, broken. We don’t just give them medicine—we remind them they still have value.”

Shawn also invests in real estate on the side. It’s a financial outlet, but also a way to build something lasting.

“It gives me balance,” he says. “I like to fix things, to create spaces. That’s true in real estate, and it’s true in healthcare.”

What Keeps Him Going

When asked how he manages it all, he pauses.

“I run. I golf. I spend time with my wife and daughter. That’s how I recharge,” he says. “You have to fill your own cup before you can pour into others.”

He talks often about his wife, Julie, and their daughter, Clara. They travel together when they can, and he tries to stay present—especially in a world that always wants more from you.

“I’m not chasing anything anymore,” he says. “I’m just trying to do what’s right in front of me.”

Lessons from the Journey

If there’s one theme in Shawn’s story, it’s this: consistency matters.

“You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room,” he says. “Just be the most reliable.”

He doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But he believes in showing up. In doing the work. In building trust, one patient at a time.

As our conversation winds down, I ask him what advice he’d give someone considering a similar path.

“Start where you are. Use what you have,” he says. “You’ll never feel 100% ready. But that’s not a reason to wait.”

And that’s probably the most honest takeaway from Shawn Blankenship’s story. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to care. And keep going.