Dr. Wallis is a fellowship-trained developmental-behavioral pediatrician with a research focus on how we can improve the care of autistic youth in primary care settings: from the time that developmental delays are first identified, to diagnosis, and through adolescence to young adulthood, to make sure we are supporting all of their medical and mental health needs. She aims to develop and test strategies to improve developmental outcomes for all children and to bridge gaps in identification and care for children from underserved groups with developmental delays and autism.

Dr. Wallis obtained additional research training with a focus on health equity through a Master's degree in Public Health, and participation in the Academic Pediatrics Association's Research Scholars Program, the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric' Research Scholars Program, and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities' Health Disparities Research Institute. She received her medical degree from SUNY Stony Brook University School of Medicine in Stony Brook, New York. Dr. Wallis continued her training with a residency in pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine, New York; and fellowships in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), both at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

She serves as co-chair of the Research Committee of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Pediatric Research.

Dr. Wallis aims to continue to pursue projects that will help her and her colleagues establish the evidence base to improve the identification and outcomes of children on the autism spectrum, and to bridge gaps in identification and care for underserved populations with autism.

• Her notable career achievements include:
  Receiving the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Children with Disabilities (COCWD) Early Career Award in 2024
• Being selected to join the Society for Pediatric Research
• Receiving the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellows' Teaching Award in 2024
• Giving invited talks on child development and developmental delays, autism, health disparities, and immigrant health to local and national groups

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Wallis is an assistant professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and as faculty in the CHOP Policy Lab. She has published frequently, primarily on the topics of autism and developmental delays.

BA, University of Pennsylvania (Health and Societies, minor in Hispanic Studies), 2007

MD, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, 2012

MPH, Stony Brook University School of Medicine (Public Health), 2012

Pediatrics Residency, NYU School of Medicine, 2015

Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics), 2018

Faculty, CHOP PolicyLab

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Co-Chair, Research Committee, Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Board Member, PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics

Editorial Board: Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Children with Disabilities (COCWD) Early Career Award in Health Equity, 2024

Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellows' Teaching Award, 2024

Excellence in Research, APA Research Scholars Program, 2019

Scholar, Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Research Scholars Program, 2018

Fellow, Penn Center for Public Health Initiatives, 2018

Academic Pediatrics Association Bright Futures Young Investigator Awardee, Supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau in Partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2017

Scholar, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Health Disparities Research Institute, 2017

PolicyLab Profile