From Research to Real Life: Dr. Malika Gupta’s Modern Allergy Practice

Dr. Malika Gupta, founder of MG Allergy in Corona del Mar, grew up surrounded by the field of immunology. Her father, Dr. Sudhir Gupta, leads one of the country’s foremost immunology programs at UC Irvine, where he has served as Chief of the Division of Basic & Clinical Immunology for the last 40 years and Director of the Jeffrey Modell Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies. Inspired by his pioneering work, Dr. Gupta pursued a career in medicine, becoming a dual board-certified Pediatrician and Allergist/Immunologist. She trained under top experts and co-authored scientific papers and book chapters with her father, learning the discipline directly from a trailblazer.

After completing her fellowship at UC Irvine, Dr. Gupta launched Hoag Hospital’s first allergy and immunology program in 2014, where she expanded the hospital’s capabilities and introduced Orange County to modern allergy care. She continues to teach at UC Irvine’s immunology clinic. As much as she valued building programs within large systems, she felt something was missing: the deeper, personal connection with patients.

In 2020, she reimagined what an allergy practice could look like. MG Allergy was born—a direct-to-patient storefront on Pacific Coast Highway designed to feel more like home than a clinic. The bright, welcoming space reflects her Newport Beach roots, while the care model emphasizes “connecting the dots,” understanding how allergy symptoms intertwine with gut health, hormones, and lifestyle. Even routine visits are transformed into meaningful educational experiences. The result is a boutique practice that blends scientific rigor with compassionate, individualized attention, and five years in, it has become a local hub where patients stop by not only for care but also for community.

What makes MG Allergy stand out is its atmosphere. The office feels more like a neighborhood living room than a doctor’s office. Staff members get to know patients personally, often sharing laughs, making space for them to relax or even take work calls, while helping navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. Its playful, ever-changing window displays on Pacific Coast Highway have become a conversation starter, often sparking curiosity from passersby who stop in to learn more. Fun is woven into the fabric of the practice; it’s part of demystifying allergy care and building lasting relationships.

The impact of Dr. Gupta’s approach is evident in countless success stories. A woman once severely allergic to cats now proudly calls her pets “live-in pillows” after targeted immunotherapy. A family whose infant had anaphylaxis from peanut butter now enjoys peace of mind thanks to carefully monitored oral immunotherapy. Children once sidelined by nut allergies are traveling abroad and enjoying foods their parents never thought possible. A retired CEO reclaimed his dream of sailing by finally enjoying shellfish again, and a competitive equestrian sidelined by severe asthma returned to the arena to win medals after advanced biologic therapy.

Beyond allergies, MG Allergy helps to identify underlying immunodeficiencies at the root of chronic health issues. One woman, plagued by chronic sinus infections, was found to be missing key protective antibodies. With targeted immunoglobulin replacement, she regained her health and her freedom to travel. These cases highlight how science, when delivered with compassion, can give people their lives back.

Dr. Gupta wants the community to know that waiting until symptoms take over is no longer necessary. Allergy and immunology care has advanced rapidly, with tools like early oral immunotherapy for toddlers and monoclonal antibody-based regimens that improve allergy shots. Once life-limiting conditions are now manageable and sometimes reversible. “If you’ve been living with allergies, asthma, or recurrent sinus infections, come talk to us,” she says. “You might be surprised at how far we’ve come.”

For Dr. Gupta, Newport Beach isn’t just where she works. It has been home since childhood. Her family moved here in the early 1980s when her father was recruited from Memorial Sloan Kettering to build UCI’s immunology division. Today, she finds joy riding her bike around Newport Dunes, paddleboarding around Lido Isle, and running with her puppy along Big Corona. Often, patients wave as they see her out in the community, a reminder of why she wanted her practice to feel like a local gathering place.

Her sense of community extends beyond the office. She serves on the Executive Board of the Foundation for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (FPID), founded by her father, as Director of Advancement. FPID funds research, builds centers of excellence, and ensures treatment for children with fragile immune systems. She also supports local organizations, including NCL, Miracles for Kids, Make-A-Wish, and CHOC Glass Slipper Guild, continuing her commitment to giving back.

Dr. Malika Gupta’s story is one of science and heart—rooted in a family legacy of medical innovation, shaped by her love of Newport Beach, and realized through MG Allergy, a practice that proves healthcare can be both groundbreaking and deeply personal.

MG Allergy
2737 East Coast Hwy, Suite D, Corona del Mar

FeelsGoodToFeelGood.org |  949-239-4000 | info@mgallergy.org
Follow on IG @mgALLERGY