In this episode of Coffee with Cool People, host Chip Munn sat down with Dr. Blake Kline, founder of Atlantic Coast Spine and Pain Center, to talk about resilience, perseverance, and the drive to keep moving forward no matter the obstacles.
Dr. Kline’s journey started with more questions than answers. His early academic path was uneven, but he turned things around at Coastal Carolina University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Initially drawn to physical therapy and pharmacy, he found his true calling in medicine and went on to earn his M.D. from MUSC before completing his anesthesiology residency at the Medical College of Georgia. A pivotal rotation confirmed his direction: “I knew right then that’s what I was going to do,” he told Chip.
From Florence, South Carolina, where he became Chief of Anesthesiology, Kline saw an opportunity to fill a critical gap in patient care. He launched Atlantic Coast Spine and Pain Center with little more than a tax ID, a leased building, and a determination to succeed. The process was not easy, insurance credentialing delays, financial hurdles, and logistical challenges tested his resolve, but he pushed through. Personally knocking on doors to build physician referrals and trust, he grew his clinic into a thriving 9,000-square-foot facility offering physical therapy, adult medicine, and interventional pain services.
Kline’s entrepreneurial journey is matched by his commitment to teaching and mentoring. Today, he trains anesthesiology residents, sharing not just clinical knowledge but also the resilience required to build a career and a practice.
Outside of medicine, Kline’s identity is closely tied to Coastal Carolina University and Chanticleer Athletics, where he serves on the CAF board. His passion for sports and community is another reflection of his belief that success is not just professional, it’s personal and relational. “Some of the best friends I have now are all involved with the university,” he said.
When Chip asked about what drives him, Kline pointed to his favorite fictional character, Rocky Balboa. “You get knocked down, you get back up. You grind. You work hard when nobody’s watching.” That philosophy has carried him from waiting tables in Myrtle Beach to leading a premier pain management practice that continues to grow and serve the community.
Dr. Blake Kline’s story is a masterclass in perseverance and purpose. Whether mentoring future physicians, leading his practice, or cheering on his Chanticleers, he brings heart, grit, and humanity to everything he does.
