Dr. Kawanaa D. Carter-Cotton graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1992 with a Bachelors degree in Neuroscience. For one year, Dr. Carter worked in a developmental biology lab and later enrolled in the University of California’s Department of Biochemisty and Biophysics graduate program.

In 1995, Dr. Carter was accepted into the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. While at Michigan State, she became heavily involved in research through the department of Pathology with a focus on the study of stem cell research.

In 2000, Dr. Carter graduated from medical school and was accepted to the General Surgery internship at the University of California at San Francisco. After completing the internship, she relocated to Davis, California to work as a postgraduate researcher in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California at Davis. After one year of research, Dr. Carter was accepted to the Neurological Surgery residency program at the University of California at Davis Medical Center. During her residency, Dr. Carter completed a clinical spine fellowship with the world-renowned spine surgeon and director of the spine fellowship, Dr. Kee Kim.

Dr. Carter is a firm believer in living a balanced life and is an avid sports enthusiast. She enjoys fitness, yoga and, for many years, played volleyball for the United States Volleyball Association.

Dr. Carter enjoys spending time with her family. Dr. Carter made the decision to open a private practice in Folsom so that her children could maintain the strong ties they developed in the community. Dr. Carter had two sons graduate from JHS in 2015 and 2017.