Aleksandra Pikula, MD

• 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

• 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

• ABPNDiplomate — Neurology (2008) & Vascular Neurology (2009), American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
• ABLM · 2021American Board of Lifestyle Medicine
• Coach Academy · 2026Professional Coach in Life & Wellness — ICF-Approved Program
• ACLMCertified Blue Zones Advocate

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.
• 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.

• Inaugural Jay & Sari Sonshine Research Chair in Stroke Prevention & Brain Health, UHN / University of Toronto
• Founding Director, JS Sonshine Centre, Krembil Brain Institute (KBI) / UHN
• Chair, WSO-GENESIS — Gender Equity & Diversity in Stroke Care, World Stroke Organization
• Founding Member — INSIGHT Network, women's neurology education
• Associate Editor — Frontiers in Global Women's Health, Stroke & Global Brain Health
• Research & Women's Health Committees, American College of Lifestyle Medicine
• Director of Brain Health (Canada), PAVING the Path to Wellness