“We offer children a life-changing opportunity by providing high-quality medical care so they are free to fully experience the normal childhood adventures of camp…and the joys and self-worth often discovered there.” — Dr. Wendy Cook, Former Medical Director

Our full-time medical staff is comprised of a Medical Director, Nursing Director, and four pediatric nurses. They will be joined each week by additional pediatric specialty physicians, nurses, social workers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other healthcare personnel who specialize in the medical condition of the children attending the camp that week.

The medical presence at The Painted Turtle is around-the-clock, unobtrusive, warm, and friendly. Our doctors and nurses are actively involved in the camp activities with the kids.

Dr. Ben Meisel, Medical Director
Ben Meisel, M.D. FAAP, received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University, attended Medical school at University of Pennsylvania and completed his Pediatric Residency at University of California at San Francisco.  Ben came to The Painted Turtle after 3 years as a pediatrician with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and as staff at the Lompoc District Hospital.  He spent the summers of 1995-1998 at Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Connecticut where he received rave reviews from the medical team and campers alike.  As medical director at The Painted Turtle, Ben is now realizing his dream to bring the experience of childhood to children and families otherwise encumbered by serious medical illnesses.

Sheri Carson, Nursing Director
Sheri Carson, MSN, RN, PHN, CPNP, is a Board Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and a Fellow in the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Sheri graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She worked as a Registered Nurse in the pediatric critical care and school health care settings for 6 years before returning to Marquette University to pursue her graduate degree. After earning her Master’s Degree as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Sheri worked as a CPNP and Supervisor for a School Health Care Program in Yuma, Arizona, where she provided free primary and urgent health care services for uninsured children at one mobile and three site-based clinics. In 2005, Sheri moved to Washington state to help establish a new pediatric clinic, where she worked as a CPNP for 2 ½ years before coming to The Painted Turtle in 2008. While Sheri thoroughly enjoyed providing primary health care services to newborns through adolescents, she always dreamed of making a difference in the lives of children and their families in a “non-traditional” way. This is exactly the mission of The Painted Turtle, and Sheri is thrilled to have found her "home" here.  In addition to her superb clinical abilities, Sheri has an innate curiosity and inimitable spirit of joy that are both refreshing and empowering to campers and staff alike. Assuming the role of Nursing Director at The Painted Turtle has been a dream come true for Sheri, and she looks forward to sharing that dream with campers, families, staff, and the entire Painted Turtle community in the days, months, and years to come.

Jill Mellor, Camper Recruiter
Jill previously served as Executive Director for the Santa Barbara Ventura Counties Dental Care Foundation. Prior to joining the Dental Foundation, she was a Program Analyst for a child abuse treatment center in Northern California.  Her medical experience comes from working in the Emergency room while serving in the US NAVY.
She is honored to join The Painted Turtle Team.