He was the brother of George Pólya (1887–1985), who was a professor of mathematics at Stanford University.
In 1909 he was habilitated for surgical anatomy at Budapest, attaining the title of professor of 1914.
Reportedly, he was murdered by the Nazis during the Siege of Budapest, although his body was never recovered.
The operation is named in conjunction with German surgeon Friedrich Paul Reichel (1858–1934).
Consequently, in 1939, Pólya was elected an honorary member of the American College of Surgeons.