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(l. to r.) Macon Brock '64, Dr. Edward Lilly '64, and President Robert Lindgren |
Dr. Edward L. Lilly, a native of Norfolk, VA was the recipient of the Society of Alumni’s Distinguished Alumnus Award at a reception held in the home of Macon Brock ’64, chair of the R-MC Board of Trustees, and his wife, Joan on June 19, 2008.
As a student at Randolph-Macon College, Lilly was active in a number of campus organizations including Circle K, Beta Beta Beta, Chi Beta Phi and as a member of Phi Delta Theta. He was recognized for his academic and leadership skills by being elected to Phi Beta Kappa and ODK.
Upon graduating from Randolph-Macon with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1964, Lilly continued his education at MCV earning his medical degree in 1968. He also completed his residency in internal medicine at MCV and was selected chief resident in 1971. Lilly went on to serve as the chief of internal medicine at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base hospital in Goldsboro, NC and received the disabled American Veterans Citation in 1974. He then returned to Norfolk to practice internal medicine and gastroenterology and has served as president of the medical staff at De Paul Hospital, as well as the chairman of internal medicine and gastroenterology at De Paul and Norfolk General Hospital.
Lilly has provided extensive volunteer medical service to the Norfolk Free Clinic and in Haiti through Physicians for Peace, a non-profit organization providing medical service in underdeveloped countries. Years ago when he learned that a hospital in Haiti was in need of gastroenterologist services, he and his family realized they could make a difference. They collected a large number of donated scopes, light sources and supplies and coordinated their efforts with that of a visiting gastroenterologist who would make weekly trips from another part of Haiti. Subsequently, in 1990 the Physicians for Peace asked Dr. Lilly to head up their efforts in Haiti. In July 2007, he went to Mali and Senegal to find ways for Physicians for Peace to work within the guidelines of the Millennium Project of the United Nations. Through Physicians for Peace, Lilly played a major role in supporting the first medical, nursing, and dental educational programs in Haiti, in developing a simple health care system for the schools and orphanages in Haiti and in leading the pediatric faculty of Eastern Virginia Medical School in a multi-day program at the medical school in Port-au-Prince.
Lilly has taken leadership roles in his local community where he has served on the boards for the Norfolk Forum, Norfolk Chapter of the American Cancer Society, the Virginia Chorale, The WHRO Foundation, and the Chrysler Museum. He is active at Larchmont United Methodist Church and has been a committee member for the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Lilly has given leadership service to Randolph-Macon College through his membership in the Heritage Society, on the Board of Associates from 1986-1993 and on the College’s Board of Trustees from 1994-2006.