Dr Nichols completed his medical degree at the University of Tasmania before going on to neurosurgical training in a number of centres in South-East Queensland and New Zealand. After his neurosurgical training, Dr Nichols did further fellowship training as a Neurointerventional Radiology fellow at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, and a Spinal Fellowship as the inaugural Queensland Neurosurgery Research Foundation Fellow.
Dr Nichols is compassionate neurosurgeon with a strong focus on communication with his patients and colleagues. Prior to starting his medical career, Dr Nichols served in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corp. His experiences have left him with a unique insight into the challenges faced by military personnel.