Curriculum vitae — highlights
Aleksandra Pikula, MD
MD, DipABPN, DipABLM · she/her — Professor of Medicine (Neurology)
JS Sonshine Research Chair in Stroke Prevention & Cerebrovascular Brain Health, UHN / University of Toronto.
110+peer-reviewed papers
$18M+research funding
20+years in vascular neurology
10+years in women's brain health
3+years in physician coaching
Current appointments.
- 2023 — presentJS Sonshine Research Chair in Stroke Prevention & Cerebrovascular Brain Health (UHN / University of Toronto)
- U of TProfessor of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto
- 2023 — presentDirector, JS Sonshine Centre (UHN / KBI)
- 2026 — presentProgram Lead, Women in Midlife (WIM) Brain Health & Stroke Prevention Program (UHN / KBI)
- 2026 — presentCreator & Lead, HER BRAIN — Women's Post-Stroke Toolkit for Recovery (Jay & Sari Sonshine Centre, UHN)
- U of TCo-Director, Women's Neurology Fellowship, University of Toronto
- 2018 — presentClinician Investigator, Krembil Brain Institute (KBI / UHN)
- 2017 — 2025Director, UHN Stroke Neurology Research Program, Toronto Western Hospital
- 2014 — presentActive Staff Stroke Neurologist, Toronto Western Hospital (UHN)
- IndependentFounder, HER PRISM™ — intentional coaching for women in medicine
Education & training.
- 2007 — 2009Clinical Fellow & Research Fellow — Vascular Neurology, Epidemiology (Framingham Heart Study), and Clinical Effectiveness; Boston University & Harvard University (Drs. Kase, Wolf & Seshadri; Drs. Rost, Rordorf & Rosand, respectively)
- 2004 — 2007Resident, Neurology, Boston University / Boston Medical Center
- 2003 — 2004Resident, Internal Medicine, NYU / Mount Sinai Health Network — Queens & Emory, USA
Certifications.
Selected publications.
110+ peer-reviewed publications. A selection most relevant to women's brain health and vascular cognition.
Click a title to read the paper ↗
- Stroke · 2026Pikula A, Iziduh S, Kocabas E, et al. Midlife as the critical window for women's stroke and dementia prevention: pivotal advances & implementation priorities.
- Menopause · 2026Pikula A, Bui E. When biology meets burnout: retaining midcareer women in academic medicine.
- Am J Lifestyle Med · 2026Falsitta LV, Pikula A. Plant-based dietary patterns and neuroimaging biomarkers of brain health: a scoping review.
- Mayo Clin Proc Innov · 2024Pikula A, Gulati M, Bonnet JP, et al. Promise of lifestyle medicine for heart disease, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disease.
- Front Glob Women's Health · 2024Berkhout SG, Hashmi S, Pikula A. Understanding gender inequity in brain health outcomes: missed stroke as a case study for intersectionality.
- BMJ Open · 2025Moores G, Zhang L, Bui E, Pikula A. Fertility treatments and stroke: a scoping review.
- BMJ Open · 2023Moores G, Steadman PE, … Pikula A, Bui E. Sex differences in neurology: a scoping review.
- Can J Neurol Sci · 2023Anello M, Pikula A, Bui E. Women's neurology: why we need a subspecialty for half the population.
- Neurology · 2018Jalini S, Rajalingam R, … Pikula A. Atrial cardiopathy in patients with embolic strokes of unknown source and other stroke etiologies.
- Front Mol Neurosci · 2018Bazzigaluppi P, … Pikula A, … Oophorectomy reduces estradiol levels and long-term neurovascular recovery in a female model of focal ischemic stroke.
- Stroke · 2017Saber H, … Pikula A, et al. Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and the risk of ischemic stroke: the Framingham Study.
- Neurology · 2015Pikula A, Beiser AS, et al. Lipid and lipoprotein measurements and the risk of ischemic vascular events: the Framingham Study.
- JAMA Neurol · 2014Weinstein G, … Pikula A, et al. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the risk for dementia: the Framingham Heart Study.
- Stroke · 2013Pikula A, Beiser AS, Chen TC, et al. Serum BDNF and VEGF levels and risk of stroke and vascular brain injury: the Framingham Study.
Full publication list on NCBI / PubMed.