Nikkola E. Carmichael, PhD, MS, CGC

Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Nikkola received a BA in Mathematics and a BMus in Vocal Performance from Rice University and an MA in Musicology from the University of Chicago before discovering her true career path in genetic counseling. She pivoted with a MS in Genetic Counseling from Brandeis University, and then went on to complete a PhD in Health Professions Education at Simmons University, where her dissertation was a qualitative study focused on the training experiences of genetic counseling students who identify with a racial or ethnic minority group. Prior to joining the faculty at Boston University, Nikkola worked as a clinical and research genetic counselor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. For the last 4 years, she has specialized in pulmonary genetics, providing genetic counseling to adult and pediatric patients with lung disease and spearheading gene discovery initiatives. Nikkola‘s research interests are centered on the education of genetic counseling students, the creation of equitable and inclusive training environments for students with identities that are currently underrepresented in the profession, and the ways in which being bicultural impacts genetic counselors’ interactions with patients.

Publications

  • Published 6/1/2025

    Fernandes MA, Anand G, Rawal M, Aleman E, Carmichael N. Genetic counseling for adult-onset neurogenetic conditions in Hispanic/Latine communities: A qualitative study of barriers and facilitators from Hispanic/Latine genetic counselors' perspectives. J Genet Couns. 2025 Jun; 34(3):e70034. PMID: 40305146.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/25/2025

    Kennedy JC, Vargas SO, Fishman MP, Alesi N, Baek SH, Khabibillin D, Platt CD, Garcia-de-Alba C, Agrawal PB, Carmichael NE, Henderson LA, Wehrman A, Boland S, Walther T, Farese RV, Casey AMH, Manis JP, Collen LV, Lvova M, Barbieri A, Sullivan B, Raby BA. A progranulin variant causing childhood interstitial lung disease responsive to anti-TNF-a biologic therapy. Med. 2025 Feb 25; 100607. PMID: 40020677.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/4/2024

    Carmichael N, Zayhowski K, Saenz Diaz J. Deconstructing imposter syndrome among BIPOC genetic counseling students: Insights from a longitudinal qualitative study. J Genet Couns. 2025 Jun; 34(3):e2004. PMID: 39632474.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/9/2024

    Carmichael N, Zayhowski K, Diaz JS. The impact of cohort relationships on BIPOC genetic counseling students: Results from a longitudinal qualitative study. J Genet Couns. 2025 Feb; 34(1):e1895. PMID: 38591757.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/15/2024

    Ramsey K, Carmichael N, Gutierrez-Kapheim M, Dell-Suguitan MD, Bao AK, Hoell C. Exploring the impact of microaggressions on the genetic counseling student-supervisor relationship: A qualitative study. J Genet Couns. 2024 Feb; 33(1):41-53. PMID: 38356454.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 29 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Websites

Education

  • Simmons College, PhD
  • Brandeis University, MS
  • University of Chicago, MA
  • Rice University, BA

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