Dr. Cameo Carter is a board-certified pediatrician through the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and a board-certified obesity medicine physician through the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM), with over 15 years of experience caring for children and families in Southern California. She is the founder and medical director of Garden Pediatrics, a thriving private pediatric practice in Redlands, California, known for its relationship-based care, clinical excellence, and deep commitment to community health.

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A core focus of Dr. Carter’s work is early intervention and preventative care, grounded in the belief that the earliest years of life offer the greatest opportunity to support long-term health, development, and family well-being. Drawing on her background in child development and training in general pediatrics, she helps families understand what truly matters in the first years - cutting through noise, trends, and misinformation to focus on evidence, context, and practical application.

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Dr. Carter is also the founder of Garden Wellness, an extension of her clinical work focused on preventative care, lifestyle medicine, and whole-person health. Through Garden Wellness, she integrates nutrition, movement, metabolic health, and education to support patients across life stages, with an emphasis on sustainability, dignity, and long-term well-being.

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Across all of her work, Dr. Carter is deeply committed to translating evidence-based medicine and public health guidelines into real-life, preventative care that families can actually use. Her approach to parenting guidance emphasizes nuance over absolutes, partnership over perfection, and thoughtful decision-making over fear, helping parents understand not just what is recommended, but why, and how to adapt guidance to their own child and family.

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In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Carter is an in-demand speaker, consultant, and medical advisor, having advised healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and health-technology startups. She is known for making complex medical topics accessible and for advocating for systems that better support patients, families, and primary care physicians.

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She is also the host of the DoctorLady Podcast, a storytelling-driven platform that elevates the voices of women, parents, and change-makers navigating work, caregiving, leadership, and life with intention. In addition to long-form interviews, she releases a short, weekly segment called “At the End of the Day,” offering reflections from daily pediatric practice—covering parenting, advocacy, medicine, and the realities of modern life.

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Through her DoctorLady social media presence, Dr. Carter shares trusted medical information, parenting insights, and reflections from clinical life. She believes meaningful engagement with her community means meeting people where they are already finding information, offering clarity and context in spaces often dominated by oversimplification, rather than pursuing influence for its own sake.

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Beyond medicine, Dr. Carter is a mother of three, a lover of music and the outdoors, and a lifelong student of human stories. Her work is grounded in the belief that trust, curiosity, and humanity are essential to good medicine - and to a life well lived.

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Education & Medical Training

Dr. Carter’s journey began at La Sierra University, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology, graduating magna cum laude with honors. She continued her education at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, earning her M.D. in 2003. Following medical school, she completed her Pediatric Residency at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital from 2004 to 2007, where she was recognized with the Jeanne Andrews Award as the Pediatric Ambulatory Medicine Resident of the Year. Post-graduate training has included a collaborative course through CHLA and the Blackburn Course in Obesity Medicine through Harvard Medical School.

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Research & Curriculum Development

During her residency, Dr. Carter conducted research in business and pediatrics, assessing the business knowledge of new pediatricians and developing a curriculum to address gaps in residency training. This unique focus on both clinical care and the business of medicine has made her a sought-after consultant for new medical practices.

 

Leadership & Professional Experience

Dr. Carter has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as the Pediatric Section Chair at Redlands Community Hospital from 2012 to 2014. She also completed two terms as a member of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Operating Board, contributing to the strategic direction of pediatric care in her community and currently is on the Montessori of Redlands school board. As a Children's Hospital of Los Angeles Care Network Member she currently chairs the member engagement committee.

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In her early clinical work, Dr. Carter contributed as a per diem pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente and served as a pediatric resident physician at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. Her earlier experience includes roles as a preschool teacher, crisis counselor, aerobics instructor, and camp counselor, reflecting her lifelong dedication to children’s development and well-being.

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Professional Affiliations

Dr. Carter is a certified fellow of the American Board of Pediatrics and an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She is also affiliated with the AAP Section on Administration and Practice Management (SOAPM), further showcasing her expertise in the intersection of healthcare and business.

 

Speaker & Consultant

Dr. Carter's in-demand speaking engagements cover a wide range of topics, from pediatric care and medical recommendations to leadership and entrepreneurship.

 

Personal Life & Passions

Dr. Carter is dedicated to fostering authentic and balanced living, both personally and professionally, and is deeply involved in her local community.​