Aleksandra Pikula, MDVascular Neurologist · Lifestyle Medicine · Physician-Coach · Researcher · Writer

Team & collaborations

The people behind the work.

Women's brain health in midlife is built by teams — clinicians, researchers, students, and people with lived experience of stroke at the Jay & Sari Sonshine Centre (UHN), and collaborators across institutions who share the science of stroke and dementia prevention.

The interdisciplinary team at the Jay & Sari Sonshine Centre / Krembil Brain Institute, UHN — behind the HER BRAIN toolkit and the Women in Midlife program.

Patient Advisory GroupStroke survivors & care partners (PLEX) shaping our research & resources
Angela VervenProgram Coordinator, JSSC & UHN Stroke Program
Dr. Gabriela de Melo GhisiScientific Associate IV & Associate Scientist, JSSC
Emine KocabasClinical Research Analyst & PhD Student
Hamdi MohamedClinical Nurse Specialist (WIM)
Jasmine ZhangClinical Research Assistant
Nicole SchneiderPatient Engagement & Education Lead
Rachel ChongJS Sonshine Chair — 2025 Summer Student Awardee
Jena ChenJS Sonshine Chair — 2026 Summer Student Awardee
Stiffra ArmamentoClinical Nurse Specialist (Lifestyle Medicine)
Una PasagicClinical Research Analyst
UHN Stroke ProgramUniversity Health Network
UofT Women's NeurologyUniversity of Toronto

Interested in joining the team? Get in touch ↗

📸Gallery — moments & events›

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External collaborations.

Collaborators and partner programs across institutions.

THETA CollaborativeToronto Health Economics & Technology Assessment, U of T
Heart & Stroke FoundationHSFC — Canada
CIHRCanadian Institutes of Health Research
OSSU–SPOROntario SPOR SUPPORT Unit
UHN PiPERPride in Patient Engagement in Research
UHN Women's Health ProgramUniversity Health Network
March of Dimes CanadaCommunity health & rehabilitation
Mature Women's ClinicMount Sinai Hospital (MSH), Toronto
U of T Department of MedicineUniversity of Toronto
UK BiobankPopulation cohort resource
ACLMAmerican College of Lifestyle Medicine
GBCCGlobal Brain Care Coalition
Brain Care LabsBrain Care Score · Massachusetts General Hospital
INSIGHTIntegrating Neurological Sex & Gender Issues in Global Health Training
PAVING the Path to WellnessBrain health & wellness program
WSO-GENESISGender Equity & Diversity in Stroke Care, World Stroke Organization
B+HARIBrain Health Applied Research Institute · Hawai‘i
ELMOEuropean Lifestyle Medicine Organization — Scientific Council