Karen J. Nichols graduated from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
[1] She graduated from Central Michigan University with a master's degree in management, with a specialty in healthcare administration.
[4] From 2002 to 2018, she served as dean at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.
[6] In 2018, she became vice chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Board of Directors.
[2][7][3] She has served on the boards of Kansas City University and the American Osteopathic Foundation.