Dr. Willis received his B.S. degree from the California State University at Fresno and his Medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. He then spent two years as a general internist at a U.S. Air Force base in California followed by his Rheumatology Fellowship at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He finished out his Air Force service as Chief of Rheumatology at David Grant USAF, Travis AFB, California.