All Roads Lead Home: Dr. Lauren Oglesby Finds Reward in Serving Her Hometown

Lauren is Springfield proud; she graduated as the valedictorian from Effingham High School in 2009 after enjoying a successful high school career that included participating in marching band right out on Rebel Field and various other activities. It was also in high school that Lauren began dating Clint Oglesby, whom she would later marry; the couple shares a three-year-old daughter and a four-month-old son.

Lauren had always dreamed of raising a family right in her hometown of Springfield, a community that had long captured her heart. For her, there was no place like home.

The Journey Begins

Following high school, Lauren attended Mercer University where she attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Health and Development with a minor in chemistry, graduating summa cum laude. She also earned her Doctor of Medicine there before completing residency through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, Tennessee.

“I really wanted to be fully trained and be able to handle anything in primary care on my own in rural Georgia. From the very beginning in medical school, it was always going to be primary care, and it was always going to be Internal Medicine and Pediatrics because it was the most training I could get,” she says.

She chose to complete her residency in Memphis because it was the most challenging residency she could find and offered her the most optimal level of experience at the time.

Gratitude and Inspiration

Lauren doesn’t feel that she would ever trade her journey, even its many challenges, because it helped her get to the place she is today. She is grateful for all those individuals who were there for her through it all.

“It was a hard journey. Thankfully, I had a lot of good support from friends and family and many, many prayers. My dad always says that he prayed me through,” she says.

Lauren’s parents were always supportive of her ambitions and dreams. She was privileged to participate in mission trips beginning at a young age. She traveled to Peru at age 14; she later traveled to Africa at age 18.

“I saw the medical needs, and I really wanted to help. My parents encouraged me to keep exploring. It gave me confidence and a lot of great life experiences that expanded my horizons,” she says.
 

One of Lauren’s biggest inspirations has always been Dr. Joseph Ratchford of Effingham Medical Partners. Dr. Ratchford, a double board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, was one of few physicians in the county when she was growing up. She feels that he has been a phenomenal mentor for her over the years.

“When I first went to medical school, he and I talked about me coming back to the county. I have a lot of respect for him. He blazed the trail in private practice. I am grateful for his mentorship through the years,” she says.

Home Again

Lauren knew that the county would benefit from having more physicians to help meet growing medical needs.

“We need more doctors in rural Georgia. I always wanted to come back to be a small-town doctor,” she says.

Lauren practiced in South Carolina for a couple of years. Still, she really wanted to come back home to build her own practice and help the people in her hometown. Since opening her practice last year, she has truly enjoyed serving her community.

“It is a blessing to be home. I’m very grateful. I couldn’t have done any of this alone. There are so many people that encouraged me and poured into me. It’s such an honor to now be able to give back to those same people,” she says.

Lauren and Clint make up the team at Magnolia Primary Care, a fully private practice.  

Lauren can have a completely patient-centered focus, something that has always been important to her. Patients enjoy the one-on-one, personal care that is often rare these days.

Transparency and Reachability

“Our biggest mission in our practice is transparency. The medical system has gotten so complex; it’s hard to get straight answers. Everything we do is transparent – our prices, our policies. Our goal is to help you navigate through medical care when you don’t understand your bill, your insurance or you just want someone to help you,” she says.

Lauren wants her patients to know that they can actually reach her, their own doctor, to address their concerns without being lost in the day-to-day activities of a very busy or overextended practice. Patients appreciate that reachability.

Looking Ahead

Lauren is looking forward to the growth of her practice to help meet the medical needs of her community.

Springfield was a wonderful place to grow up – quiet and just good people. I think that is what shaped me. It’s a wonderful feeling to give back to such good people. I’m excited to see where Springfield goes next, and I hope our practice goes with it. It’s so good to be home,” she says.

You can find 𝐃𝐫. 𝐎𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 in Springfield
www.magnoliaprimary.com