Keynote Speaker

Dr. La Keita D. Carter is a licensed psychologist in Maryland specializing in trauma, sexual wellness and relationships, addictions, women’s issues, and cultural barriers to treatment. A native Baltimorean, Dr. Carter completed her bachelor's degree at Temple University as well as master's and doctoral degrees at Loyola University Maryland. In addition to being a licensed psychologist, she is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and licensed clinical alcohol & drug counselor (LCADC) in Maryland.

Dr. Carter is the owner and CEO of the Institute for HEALing, LLC (iHEAL), an award-winning, nationally-accredited wellness agency based in Owings Mills, MD that specializes in the treatment of mental health disorders in children, teens, and adults. In addition to her practice, she teaches psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels.. Afectionately known as "Dr. C" by her patients and graduate students, she has authored three psychology textbooks.

Over the past two years, she was recognized as one of Maryland’s Most Admired CEOs, Maryland’s Top 100 Women (in 2021 and 2023), and Top 40 under 40 by The Daily Record and a Leader in Diversity by The Baltimore Business Journal. She has been featured guest discussing mental health topics like stress, trauma, and depression in media outlets like The Afro, Fox45, WBAL, New York Times, Washington Post, WJZ13, and Baltimore Sun.

With love for her community being a driving force behind her work, she volunteers her time as a member of the Board of Directors for Pro Bono Counseling as well as the Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Black Mental Health Alliance, Inc. She holds the ofice of Secretary on the Board of Deacons at Providence Baptist Church as well as chaplain of one of the church’s oldest clubs.

A 22-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Dr. Carter was initiated in Delta Mu chapter at Temple University and is active in Rho Xi Omega chapter (Baltimore, MD) where she currently serves as the chair of the Mental Health Awareness Committee, chair of the Technology Committee, and member of the External Awards Committee.

She is married to Jarrett Carter, Sr., and they have four children who range in age from 4-13. She enjoys exercising (liting and cycling), baking, cooking, traveling, home decorating, and watching movies. She reserves Sundays, her favorite day of the week, for faith, family, and selfcare, which includes baking her weekly loaf of bread.

Carmen Fulton, M.D. Board Certified Psychiatrist is a graduate of the University of Maryland-Sheppard Pratt Psychiatry Training Program. She offers an up-to-date knowledge base of current evidence-based treatment in both medication management and a broad range of psychotherapies. Dr. Fulton uses an integrated wellness approach in treating patients, particularly with a focus on chronic mental illness in forensic populations. Fulton obtained a Masters in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University, with a special interest in decreasing the stigma of mental health concerns in underserved and minority populations.