A Life Rooted in Education, Wellness, and Service
Carey Shannon, DHM, DFM, PhD, is a Keynote Speaker, Author, Functional Wellness and Joyful Living Educator, Board Certified Functional Practitioner, Coach, Registered Medical Assistant, and Autoimmune Warrior.
With more than 30 years of experience spanning education, allied healthcare, program leadership, and whole person wellness, Carey brings a unique combination of academic knowledge, practical experience, personal understanding, and compassionate leadership to her work.
From the Classroom to Allied Healthcare
An educator at heart, Carey began her career teaching children in kindergarten through second grade. Those early years cultivated her passion for helping others learn, grow, and recognize their own potential.
She later became a Registered Medical Assistant and gained experience in pediatric healthcare settings. Combining her love of teaching with her healthcare background, Carey went on to teach high school Allied Health and Medical Technologies, preparing students for careers in healthcare and helping them connect classroom learning with real world application.
Carey later served as a college professor, program manager, and Allied Health program director. In these roles, she helped develop and lead a successful Allied Health program while supporting students, faculty, and future healthcare professionals.
Today, Carey continues to teach and support Allied Health students while consulting on curriculum development, professional learning, student engagement, educator well-being, and health education pathways.
Education and Professional Credentials
Carey holds doctoral credentials in Holistic and Functional Medicine and is a Board Certified Functional Practitioner and Registered Medical Assistant.
She also holds a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree in education, a Career Technical Education credential in Health and Medical Technologies, and a Certificate in Health and Wellness. Her studies and professional training include anatomy, nutrition, pharmacology, functional wellness principles, telehealth, and blended learning.
Her experience across elementary education, career technical education, college instruction, allied healthcare, and functional wellness gives Carey the ability to translate complex information into clear, practical strategies that people can understand and use.
Functional Wellness and Joyful Living
Carey’s professional work is deeply connected to her personal experience as an Autoimmune Warrior. Her own search for answers inspired her to explore how nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, faith, mindset, connection, and environmental influences can shape how we feel.
As the founder of Carolina Sunshine Wellness, Carey provides coaching, courses, wellness programs, and practical lifestyle education designed to help individuals and families create healthier, more sustainable habits.
Through Rooted Health Labs, she offers selected functional wellness assessments, personalized education, Rooted Wellness Blueprints, and focused support for individuals who are ready to look deeper and gain greater insight into patterns that may warrant further exploration.
Speaking, Professional Development, and Community Leadership
Carey is an engaging keynote speaker and facilitator who brings together education, wellness, storytelling, science informed perspectives, and immediately applicable strategies.
She speaks to schools, districts, universities, conferences, churches, community organizations, and professional groups on topics including functional wellness, joyful living, educator well-being, family engagement, student wellness, emotional resilience, healthy habits, and sustainable behavior change.
Carey also provides professional development and customized programming for educators, school leaders, healthcare students, organizations, and communities. Her presentations are designed to do more than inform. They encourage reflection, create connection, and inspire meaningful action.
As the founder of The Healthy Family Initiative and founder and executive director of Raising Well, Carey works to expand access to wellness education, social emotional learning, family engagement, educator support, and practical programs that strengthen children, families, schools, and communities.
Author and Creator
Carey is the author of The Sugar Break Up, the Journey to Wellness Series, and Raising Well: The Mindful Child Method: Building a Strong Foundation with Healthy Eating, Movement, and Positivity. She is also the creator of the Traveling Tazi children’s book series.
Her books, programs, workshops, and presentations are inspired by real life experience and a lifelong belief in the power of education to create meaningful and lasting change.
Whether Carey is guiding a client, teaching a class, presenting on stage, developing a program, or serving her community, her mission remains the same: to educate, empower, inspire, and help others move forward with greater clarity, confidence, connection, and joy.
Carey’s work is rooted in science, guided by nature, strengthened by faith, and centered on the belief that small, intentional shifts can create a meaningful impact.
Please note: Carey Shannon is a Board Certified Functional Practitioner and holds a Doctorate in Holistic and Functional Medicine. However, she is not a medical doctor. Carey does not diagnose, treat, prescribe, or manage medications. Her services focus on wellness education and prevention minded lifestyle support. They are designed to explore functional patterns and potential contributing factors, support informed lifestyle choices, and complement, not replace, the care of a licensed healthcare provider.