Carla Picardo, MD, MPH grew up in the community she now serves as the owner of and physician provider at Women’s Wellness & Gynecology. She graduated cum laude with a degree in biology from Harvard University. Carla earned her medical degree at Wake Forest University and completed her internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health Sciences University in 2002.  After practicing with Community Health Net in Erie for 18 months, she attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, having been awarded a federally sponsored research fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology. During the two-year program, she also earned her Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology and completed an additional residency in General Preventive Medicine and Public Health. In addition, Carla initiated research related to women’s health services after Hurricane Katrina and the delivery of injectable contraception through pharmacies, both which led to publications in American peer-reviewed medical journals.  Carla’s research and clinical interests have afforded her opportunities to give presentations in France, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Kazakhstan, as well as within the United States. She spent a month in Nepal caring for patients in remote villages and in a local hospital. Her appreciation that various forms of medicine can be integrated into western medicine led her to learn about Ayurveda in Portland, Oregon and Thai massage in Chang Mai, Thailand directly from providers.

Carla returned to Erie and joined Erie Women’s Health Partners as an employed Obstetrician and Gynecologist, where she remained for 7.5 years until her employer retired and closed the practice on December 31, 2014. Carla’s desire and commitment to offer outpatient gynecological and women’s preventive services both at the office and community level led to the creation of Women’s Wellness & Gynecology.  Carla has maintained her board certification in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and General Preventive Medicine and Public Health. She is one of fewer than 50 individuals in the United States who possess this dual board certification. Carla was also appointed to and currently serves as a member of the Erie County Health Board.

Carla's gynecological interests and strengths include vulvar and pelvic pain, pain with sex, vulvar skin disorders, contraceptive management, and the management of abnormal Pap smears.  She takes great pride in taking the time to educate patients about their abnormal results or diagnoses.  Carla feels it is important to discuss all options with a patient and takes the time to do so. She partners with local specialists she trusts in areas of nutrition, health coaching, wellness, and mental health services.

Dr. Picardo makes it her goal to balance her professional life and family life -  which is always a work in progress. She believes in the power of a healthy lifestyle. Over time, she has found ways to move more, prepare and eat homemade plant based meals, and manage stress through yoga and meditation. She enjoys travel, hiking, and playing backyard baseball with her husband and son.