For Dr. Nicole Christians, an allergist and immunologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch, medicine is personal. Her journey into the field was shaped by her own experience living with allergic diseases.
“Growing up, I saw an allergist regularly,” she said. “That experience shaped me and gave me a deep empathy for the patients I now care for.”
That empathy led her to specialize in Allergy and Immunology, where she now helps patients find lasting relief.
“I love helping people identify their triggers and find relief.”
A Houston native, Christians completed medical school, residency, and fellowship training at UTMB. After a brief time in private practice, she returned to UTMB this summer, drawn back by her passion for academic medicine and the mentors who shaped her career—specifically Drs. Jennifer McCracken, Julia Tripple and Andrew Grant.
She currently sees patients in League City and Galveston, rotating with Dr. Sarah Pham. Her clinical interests include allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema and allergy shots, which she describes as “pretty amazing” for their ability to treat the root cause of allergic inflammation. Her clinic offers skin testing for environmental and food allergies.
Though she primarily treats adults, Christians also sees children ages 10 and up and welcomes former pediatric patients from her private practice days.
One of her standout initiatives is penicillin allergy de-labeling, a process that helps patients safely remove outdated allergy labels.
“Approximately 80% of patients with [a] penicillin allergy lose their sensitivity after 10 years,” she said. “We can often safely perform an oral challenge in clinic, and if they pass, they can freely take penicillin in the future.”
This work supports better patient outcomes and antibiotic stewardship, and Christians is eager to collaborate with UTMB’s infectious disease and pharmacy teams to expand the effort.
She also encourages primary care providers to refer patients with asthma, especially those struggling with control. Her clinic offers biologics, advanced treatment options that can significantly improve quality of life.
“It’s something I can actually fix,” she said. “And that’s incredibly rewarding.”
The above story was adapted from the August edition of the UTMB Faculty Group Practice Newsletter, which is a monthly resource for UTMB and community clinicians.