Dr. Blankenship joins CoxHealth Branson

CoxHealth Branson welcomes a new neurologist to their team. 

Dr. Brian Blankenship may be new to the CoxHealth Branson family, but he is certainly no stranger to the Ozarks. Blankenship was raised in Stone County, Missouri, and graduated from Reeds Spring High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Missouri State University and his medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine, where he graduated with honors.  

Blankenship (Photo submitted)

Dr. Blankenship completed his Neurology Residency at University of Missouri, where he served as Chief Neurology Resident, and followed that with a Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship.

"Throughout my academic career, I was fortunate to be supported by the community," noted Blankenship. "As a recipient of a Skaggs Foundation Scholarship, one of the conditions was that I would at least consider working at Cox Branson. With this in the back of my head throughout my medical training, I kept this in consideration, but didn't know if it would be possible to support a neurology practice in a rural community."

Blankenship participated in the Missouri Rural Scholar Program at the UMC School of Medicine, which was designed to address the serious shortage of doctors in rural areas of the state. As a part of the program, Dr. Blankenship was provided with a variety of experiences, including specialized lectures, mentoring and clinical experiences focused on rural health care.

"I was fortunate, as a Mizzou Rural Health Scholar, to rotate back home in Branson, where I was introduced to the sole neurologist serving the Branson area community, Dr. Cornelison," Blankenship explained. "Her deep passion for her community and seeing what she helped build inspired me and showed me it was not only possible, but that I could actually be more impactful here than in a bigger city."

Blankenship continued, "I kept in touch throughout my training, and as we came back to visit family, the choice became clear.  We had to come back to serve this community and raise our kids around family. The opportunity to do this was too good to pass up."

When the 2025 - 2026 school year ended, Dr. Blankenship and his wife, Bonnie, also a Reeds Spring High School graduate, along with their two young sons, moved back to the area they once called home. Together, they enjoy the beauty of the Ozarks, many outdoor activities, Table Rock Lake and the comfort that comes in having parents, family members and friends nearby.

"I've just recently begun seeing patients down here, and it is extremely gratifying. The staff I work with is incredible. I feel the full support of the community, and the patients are so grateful not to have to wait months or a year to get into a clinic hours away," Dr. Blankenship explained. "I look forward to growing this practice, deepening our roots in this community, and possibly showing the next generation that rural practice is not only possible, but often the best option."