Lila Wallis was born in Grodno, Poland on June 21, 1921. She is the first physician to be certified in three specialties: Endocrinology/Metabolism, Hematology, and Internal Medicine.

She received a BA degree in Chemistry at Barnard College in 1947. In 1951, she received a MD from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. She completed her residency at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Wallis spent her entire medical career at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. She was an instructor in Medicine and Physician to Outpatients from 1955-1962, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and Assistant Attending Physician from 1962-1976, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Attending Physician, 1976-1984, and became Clinical Professor of Medicine and Attending Physician, 1984.

Dr. Wallis is a pioneer in promoting programs for women in medicine and women's health. She founded and served as the first president of the National (Regional) Council on Women in Medicine Inc from 1982-1987. She was president of American Medical Women's Association, 1987-1989 and the Women's Medical Association of New York City, 1974-1978. In 1982, she founded and served as the first Director of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Office of Women in Medicine. She also established the Women's Health Day programs, edited the Cornell Medical Update, established and directed the Update Your Medicine courses and directed the Teaching Associates Program at the medical center. She was the Director for the First, Second and Fourth Regional Conferences on Women in Medicine.

In 1990, she received the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal from the American Medical Women's Association the top honor for women who have made a contribution to women's health and women in medicine. In the spring of 1987, a group of patients and Cornell University Medical College established the Dr. Lila Wallis Visiting Professorship of Women's Health, which is the first professorship in women's health in the United States. Dr. Wallis passed away on January 3, 2022 at the age of 100.