Callie

Lilley

Where is your hometown?
Charlotte, NC

Where did you attend:
College/University:  UNC Chapel Hill
Medical School:Tulane University 
Residency: Duke University 

List your medical and non-medical honors and awards:

• NC Society of Gastroenterology Fellows Debate Winner 2026              
• American College of Gastroenterology Outstanding Poster Presenter Ward Winner 2023
• Duke Graduate Medical Education Safety Advocate Award 2023, 2024
• Dawn Provenzale Research Award Grant Recipient 2022
• AMWA Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic Achievement 2021 (Top ten percent of medical school graduating class)

Tell us briefly about your background before embarking on your medical training?
I am a North Carolina native and have spent much of my life here, having grown up in Charlotte and gone to UNC Chapel Hill for college. I was active growing up and played multiple sports, including field hockey, soccer, tennis and water sports including slalom skiing. I’m a Tarheel, first and foremost (I may be in the minority, but you’ll never see me cheering for Duke Basketball!) and loved my time living in Chapel Hill in college. It was during this chapter that I discovered my passion for education and ultimately pursued a minor in education, which has been an integral part of my path in medicine now.  

Outline your career plans in gastroenterology (if you know it at this point in your training)?
My clinical interests are in inflammatory bowel disease, nutrition, and general gastroenterology. I have derived great satisfaction in the longitudinal care of complex patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in my continuity clinic during fellowship. Forging relationships with this patient population over time, teaching them about their disease and navigating the shared decision-making process in treatment options has been incredibly rewarding. I envision myself ultimately working at an academic center because I love the multidisciplinary and collaborate atmosphere, and I also enjoy working with and teaching other trainees.

What were you looking for in a fellowship program?
Similar to residency, I was looking for a program that provided rigorous clinical training but in a supportive and collegial environment. Additionally, I wanted to work with faculty who were not only invested in developing my skills as a gastroenterologist but also invested in mentorship and supporting my unique interests within the field. I’ve been supported during training to pursue my complementary interests within gastroenterology. For instance, with a longstanding interest in nutrition, I have had the opportunity to deepen my expertise in the intersection of nutrition and gastrointestinal disease through an intensive online year-long nutrition fellowship at Duke and attending a specialized conference hosted by current ACG President, Dr. William Chey at the University of Michigan which focuses on how diet and nutrition impact gastrointestinal disease and digestive health. 

What advice might you offer residents looking at fellowship programs?
The people are truly the most important part of a program – faculty, fellows and staff. Fellowship, like residency, can be challenging at times, and the people you’re surrounded by are the people who will look out for you and support you when things are hard. These same people will invest in your development and mentor you. The skills will come, but the people you do it with will make the difference in your experience.

From your experience in fellowship, what have you learned about training at Duke?
I had a unique advantage having trained at Duke for residency, so I had unadulterated exposure to the culture of the Duke Department of Medicine and the Gastroenterology division as a resident and now as a fellow. The division leadership is strong and has done a masterful job recruiting trainees and attendings who are as bright as they are humble. Top-down, there is a collaborative culture that is team-oriented and supportive.

How is your life in the Triangle area outside of work?
My husband and I have loved living in Durham. It’s an ideal size but packs a punch for its size – Durham has great music venues, restaurants and bars, but just down the street are several other wonderful communities to explore, as well (Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Cary, Raleigh, to name a few). You can also drive 20 minutes to be at great hiking trails, 30 minutes to be at a lake with water sports and camping, 2 hours to enjoy the beaches on the coast and 3 hours to explore the mountains.

What is your favorite restaurant in Durham?
Tough question as there are so many good ones! I’d have to go with Nana’s ultimately though.  It was an iconic Durham restaurant for many years and ultimately closed but has reopened in the last couple of years after renovation and truly every item on the seasonally rotating menu is excellent. 

List your hobbies and interests outside of work.
Barre workout classes, spin classes, neighborhood walks, slalom water skiing, playing piano, attending live music shows, exploring local culinary scenes, traveling abroad