Dr. Carvalho attended the University of California at Davis for her undergraduate studies from 1985-1988. She graduated from Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992 and completed a small animal internship at the California Animal Hospital in 1993. She joined Brentwood Animal Hospital in 1996 and became a partner in 1999. Dr. Carvalho is a Board-Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and is a Clinical Professor at Western University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, California. She currently serves as one of the Medical Directors.

Dr. Carvalho has served on the Medical Advisory Boards of PetDrx Corporation and VCA. She is an expert contributor for a premiere on line parenting website, and has served on the parent board of the John Thomas Dye School where her children attend. A native of Hawaii, Dr. Carvalho enjoys outdoor activities such as surfing, paddle boarding, hiking, golfing, and traveling with her husband and two children.