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 6/1/2025 Patel S, Zayhowski K, Saenz Diaz J, Carmichael N. BIPOC genetic counseling students' perspectives on career-oriented social media use: Results from a longitudinal qualitative study. J Genet Couns. 2025 Jun; 34(3):e70062. PMID: 40459224. Read at: PubMed Published 6/1/2025 Fishler Malone K, Carmichael N. Research methodologies in genetic counseling: Grounded theory. J Genet Couns. 2025 Jun; 34(3):e70060. PMID: 40462574. Read at: PubMed Published 5/5/2025 Connors KL, Carmichael NE, Bichell TJ, Dies KA, Frazier ZJ. Development of a Patient and Caregiver-Centered Pediatric Disease Concept Model for Kleefstra Syndrome. Sage Open Pediatr. 2025; 12:30502225251336880. PMID: 40612157. Read at: PubMed Published 2/27/2025 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 Jun 13; 6(6):100607. PMID: 40020677. Read at: PubMed View All 32 Publications: View Full Profile in BUMC Websites BU Profile LinkedIn ResearchGate Twitter Boston Children's Hospital Education Simmons College, PhD Brandeis University, MS University of Chicago, MA Rice University, BA View all profiles