Dr. Nikkola Carmichael

Biography

Nikkola Carmichael completed her Bachelor’s in Mathematics and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Rice University, followed by a Master’s degree in Musicology from the University of Chicago. She transitioned into the field of genetic counseling, earning a Master’s in Genetic Counseling from Brandeis University, and subsequently completed her PhD in Health Professions Education at Simmons University. Her research focuses on the training experiences of genetic counseling students from racial and ethnic minority groups, addressing how their identities influence their professional training. Before joining Boston University as an Assistant Professor, she worked as a clinical research genetic counselor, specializing in pulmonary genetics at Brigham Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital. Nikkola is committed to creating equitable and inclusive training environments for students, especially those underrepresented in the profession. Her goal is to mentor students who share similar identities and to lead workshops that promote culturally responsive supervision among genetic counselors. She is actively involved in integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into the curriculum of the BU Genetic Counseling Program, aiming to support learners from historically marginalized backgrounds including those served by Boston Medical Center.

Research Interests