The Story Behind Halcyon Health

Dr. Lauren Whitley was born and raised in Memphis, TN. From the time she was young, she always dreamed of becoming a Physician, and she pursued that passion as a pre-medical student at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. She was ecstatic to learn that her years of hard work had paid off, and she was accepted to the class of 2012 at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, TN.

While in medical school, Dr. Whitley became interested in pursuing Primary Care. Upon completion of medical school in 2012, she entered residency at the Montgomery Center for Family Medicine in Greenwood, SC. Here she developed a keen awareness of how important the doctor-patient relationship is in helping patients obtain and maintain wellness long-term, rather than addressing problems as they arise.

Dr. Whitley has been practicing medicine independently since 2016. She quickly found that there are many unfortunate barriers imposed by the current medical climate which interfere with quality care. She founded Halcyon Health in 2022 to break through these barriers and to reestablish that critical relationship between a Doctor and the patient. Halcyon Health exists to serve the community by offering top quality primary care that is available and accessible when patients need it.

Dr. Whitley has been married to her husband, Dr. Justin Whitley, since 2007. They are proud parents of four children and enjoy raising them here in our Golden Isles community. Outside of work, Dr. Whitley spends time with her family outdoors, cooking, painting, exercising and enjoying everything the Golden Isles has to offer!

Dr. Justin M. Whitley grew up in Collierville, Tennessee. From an early age, he enjoyed studying Biology, but it wasn't until he got to college at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi that his interest in Biology became an interest in Medicine. He attended medical school in Memphis, Tennessee at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He received the Health Professions Scholarship Program from the United States Navy which allowed him to pursue his love of Medicine and show his dedication to his Country. He graduated medical school in 2008 and finished with Highest Honors.

After graduation, Dr. Whitley completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Portsmouth, Virginia. Following his internship, he had the opportunity to become an Aeromedical Officer, also known as a Flight Surgeon, at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. From there he was assigned VMFA(AW)-533 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Dr. Justin Whitley resigned from the Navy in 2013 and joined his wife at the Montgomery Center where he completed his residency in Family Medicine in December 2015. He worked as a Hospitalist at Hardin Medical Center in Savannah, Tennessee from 2016 to 2018, but in 2018, he and Lauren felt the call of the coast and the opportunity presented itself for them to move to Saint Simons Island. Dr. Whitley worked as a Hospitalist at Southeast Georgia Health System from 2018 to 2024, but after prayerful consideration, he made the decision to join his wife at Halcyon Health. He has been amazed at the success of the clinic and the positive impact it has had on so many of its members. He wants to see his patients attain the best state of health possible and support them by making positive changes to stay active and healthy.

Dr. Whitley’s greatest passion is being a dad to his four children. They keep him busy with art, singing, piano, football, basketball, baseball, and soccer! When he has free time, he enjoys running, lifting weights, and reading.