Dr. Lisa Gorab’s lifelong calling
Dr. Lisa Gorab completed her pediatric residency while pregnant with her daughter, Alex. Her journey into medicine began with a love for science, nurtured through high school volunteer work and a degree in public health.
Just three months after giving birth, Lisa began her lifelong practice as part of the CHOC Primary Care Network.
“I’ve always loved working with children,” she says. “They’re resilient, full of hope, and want to get better.” After 35 years in the same practice, she now finds herself caring for the second generation, children of the patients she once treated as toddlers.
And now, that joy has come full circle. Her daughter, Dr. Alexandra Gorab, has joined her as a fellow pediatrician in the same office — a dream come true for both.
Dr. Alexandra Gorab’s return to her roots
Dr. Alexandra Gorab always knew medicine was in her future. Growing up with a pediatrician mother and an orthopedic surgeon father, the hospital halls felt like a second home.
After completing her residency in California, she moved with her husband to Washington, D.C., where she practiced pediatric medicine and welcomed two children of her own. But her heart was back home in Orange County — with family and the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream — joining her mom in practice.
“I love pediatrics because you can make such a big impact early in a child’s life,” Alex says.
“I look forward to going to work every day because I love my job and it’s extra special that I get to work side-by-side with my mom.”
A team like no other
The close bond between the mother-daughter duo extends beyond family—it shapes how they care for their patients, support each other, and work seamlessly as a team.
Patients are often delighted to learn that the pediatricians caring for their children are a mother and daughter duo, and some even recall Lisa sharing stories about Alex as a child.
The mother-daughter duo collaborates constantly, discussing complex cases, comparing notes on interesting diagnoses, and learning from each other.
“Having medical partners from different generations is such a gift,” Alex says. “We blend wisdom and experience with new technology and the latest guidelines. I help my mom navigate electronic medical records, and she helps me think through tough clinical moments she’s seen before.”
Lisa adds, “We’re not just colleagues — we’re family. And that’s something our patients really feel.”
“I practice medicine the way I was raised,” Alex says. “My close relationship with my parents — especially my mom — has shaped how I interact with families. I know what a strong parent-child relationship looks like, and that helps me support the families I care for.”
Family first—in and out of the office
Outside of work, the two cherish the simple moments together as much as the clinical ones.
Now a mom, Alex says, “We love spending time outdoors with my two little ones — walking around Balboa Island, taking the ferry across to the peninsula, playing in the sand at Marina Park, or grabbing lunch at our local café. It’s where we laugh, reconnect, and just enjoy being a family.”
Whether they’re caring for patients or mentoring the next generation of pediatricians, their shared compassion and unique mother-daughter connection bring an added warmth to their work.
Together, they’re not just part of a practice — they’re part of a legacy of care that’s rooted in purpose, strengthened by trust, and inspired by family.
