Dr. Lucas Godinez is the oldest of six kids, the son of two physicians, and a St.-Louis-born boy who moved to Philadelphia when he was five. His favorite toy as a child was a Quarterback Challenge, a handheld Coleco football game that he burned through a whole lot of batteries playing over and over again. He also loved playing basketball on his parents’ tennis court, where he set up floodlights to play at night, and even starred in a few midnight games in his time.
Dr. Godinez majored in Biochemistry at the University of Dallas, where he followed in his father’s college footsteps and learned he didn’t want to live in Dallas all his life. He moved back to Philly after a year of post-bacc work at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. He earned his DO Degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, then completed an Osteopathic internship at Meadville Medical Center, where, as the only House Officer on Call every 3rd night, and did everything a complete hospital staff would do all by himself. While completing his Pediatric Residency at Mercy Hospital, he became a “student” of Dr. Pai, then joined his pediatric practice in 2004.
He is board-certified in Pediatrics, a board-certified Lactation Consultant, and a member of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association. His medical interests include breastfeeding medicine, preventative pediatric medicine, sports-related injuries, concussion medicine, osteopathic manipulative treatments., and children with special health care needs.
In 2000, Dr. Godinez married his med school best friend, Danielle — who, as a Pittsburgh native, quickly helped him decide where he did want to live. They have three children (Joseph, Isabel, and Alexander) plus a dog and an old farmhouse that has lots of acreage and lots of potential for their dreams. Dr. Godinez is an avid Philly fan, and his wife is an avid Pittsburgh fan, so for 3 of the 4 major sports, they enjoy rooting against each other.
Dr. Godinez enjoys gardening, beekeeping, birdwatching, and watching for all kinds of wildlife. He also enjoys sports very much — football is his first love in team sports — and loves teaching them to and playing them with his children. He also loves flyfishing, lake fishing, ocean/surf fishing — pretty much fishing anywhere for anything.
His favorite place to “play” in Pittsburgh is fishing in any of its many streams.
To read about one of Dr. Godinez’s favorite family traditions, see his wonderful Doctor’s Note.
To learn more about Dr. Godinez, check out his installment of Kids Plus Q&A: