Dr. Michael Lillestol, MD

Concierge Internal Medicine, Fargo, ND

Dr. Michael Lillestol is an MDVIP-affiliated internal medicine physician in Fargo, North Dakota, and founded Lillestol Research in 2004.

31st Avenue South, Suite 102, Fargo, ND 58104

At a glance

Published fee

$1,980 per year

Board certified

Internal Medicine

Licensed in

Facts on this page last checked September 2026. How we check doctors

About Dr. Lillestol

Michael Lillestol is an MDVIP-affiliated internal medicine physician in Fargo, North Dakota. He earned his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in 1974, trained in internal medicine at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is board certified in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Lillestol is affiliated with Sanford Health and Essentia Health. Since developing an interest in clinical research in 1990, he has served as principal investigator on more than 300 clinical trials, founding Lillestol Research in 2004. He has co-authored at least 8 research papers indexed in PubMed.

Dr. Lillestol has received several diabetes-care honors, including five North Dakota Diabetes Care Provider Achievement Gold Awards between 2005 and 2009. As he puts it, "As a longtime primary care physician in the Fargo community, my medical practice philosophy is embodied in the principle that 'prevention is better than cure.'"

As a longtime primary care physician in the Fargo community, my medical practice philosophy is embodied in the principle that 'prevention is better than cure.'

Dr. Michael Lillestol

Membership and fees

MDVIP annual membership fee for his practice is billed quarterly ($495), semi-annually ($990), or annually ($1,980)

$1,980 per year

Education and credentials

Education

Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND (1966-1970)

Education

Bachelor of Science in Medicine, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, undergraduate (1971-1973)

Residency

Internal medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN

Internship

Internal medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, 1974-1975

Board certified

Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

Certification

American Heart Association BLS/ACLS (recertified 2015)

Certification

Certified Clinical Densitometrist (C.C.D.) and member of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, May 2002

Certification

Investigator Training for Medical Research, Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB), 2002

Membership

Fellow, American College of Physicians (FACP)

License

North Dakota 4830 Verify with the North Dakota Board of Medicine

NPI

1669427688

Hospital and practice affiliations

Sanford Health

Essentia Health

Location

31st Avenue South, Suite 102, Fargo, ND 58104

MDVIP - Fargo North Dakota practice page

Directions

Recognition and research

Awards

Lillestol Research, LLC won the Fargo-Moorhead Chamber of Commerce's 2010 Small Business of the Year award.

A five-time Gold winner of the North Dakota Diabetes Care Provider Achievement Award (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009).

Received the North Dakota Diabetes Care Provider Achievement Silver Award in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Received the Golden Grains Award in 2003 in appreciation of his support of the North Dakota Dietetic Association.

"Top Doc" in a poll of local healthcare providers

FM Today Magazine, 2001-2002

Publications

Has co-authored at least 8 research papers indexed in PubMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine database.

Co-authored a published 52-week placebo-controlled clinical trial on the cholesterol drug evolocumab, alongside Phillip D. Toth and others.

Co-authored a published study on the effects of denosumab on bone mineral density and bone turnover.

"Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir targeting viral persistence in post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) in the USA (RECOVER-VITAL): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial"

Lancet. Infectious Diseases, 2026

"Immunogenicity, Efficacy, and Safety of Biosimilar Insulin Glargine (Gan & Lee Glargine) Compared With Originator Insulin Glargine (Lantus) in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes After 26 Weeks Treatment"

Endocrine Practice, 2024

"Immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety of biosimilar insulin glargine (Gan & Lee glargine) compared with originator insulin glargine (Lantus®) in patients with type 2 diabetes after 26 weeks' treatment: A randomized open label study"

Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 2024

"A 52-week placebo-controlled trial of evolocumab in hyperlipidemia"

New England Journal of Medicine, 2014

"Influence of patient perceptions and preferences for osteoporosis medication on adherence behavior in the Denosumab Adherence Preference Satisfaction study"

Menopause, 2014

Teaching and research roles

Serves on the Pharmacy/Therapeutics Committee of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota, 1993-present.

President of the Heartland Independent Provider Network in Fargo, since 1999.

Professor of Medical Student Clerkships (3rd and 4th year) at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine since 2000.

Principal Investigator at Lillestol Research, LLC since 2004.

Founded Lillestol Research, an independent clinical-trials research facility in Fargo, in 2004; it has grown from two employees running about eight trials at a time to more than 20 employees running an average of 40 clinical trials at a time.

Chief of Staff at Dakota Heartland Hospital, Fargo, ND, in 1997.

Chief of Staff-Elect at Dakota Heartland Health System, Fargo, ND, in 1996.

Chairman of the Board of Heartland Medical Center, Fargo, ND, 1993-1994.

Chief of Staff at Heartland Medical Center (formerly St. John's Hospital), Fargo, ND, 1986-1987.

Has served as a clinical-research Principal Investigator on more than 300 trials since developing an interest in clinical research in 1990.

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Questions patients ask

How much does Dr. Lillestol charge?

MDVIP annual membership fee for his practice is billed quarterly ($495), semi-annually ($990) or annually ($1,980).

Is Dr. Lillestol board certified?

Yes. Dr. Lillestol is board certified in Internal Medicine.

Where did Dr. Lillestol train?

Dr. Lillestol completed an internal medicine residency at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Lillestol completed an internal medicine internship at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, 1974-1975.