Dr. Aleksandra Pikula is the Inaugural Jay & Sari Sonshine Chair in Stroke Prevention and Cerebrovascular Brain Health at the University of Toronto (UofT) and the University Health Network – Krembil Brain Institute, where she also serves as Director of the JS Sonshine Centre. Dr. Pikula is also a Vascular Neurologist at UHN/Toronto Western Hospital, an Associate Professor of Medicine (Neurology) and a Co-Director of the Women's Neurology Program at UofT, as well as a Clinician-Investigator at the Krembil Brain Institute. Her clinical and research focus lies in stroke prevention and outcomes, with a particular emphasis on patient-reported outcomes in women and younger adults with stroke. She is locally and globally involved in implementation science of innovative models of care for population with lived experience. She advocates a holistic approach to brain care, specifically targeting stroke and dementia prevention during midlife through evidence-based lifestyle medicine pillars.
Dr. Pikula is quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Neurology, Vascular Neurology & Lifestyle Medicine. She completed her Neurology and Vascular Neurology Fellowship and Post Doctorate training at Boston University, Harvard University and worked on the Framingham Heart Study while being supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH-NINDS) institutional grant and the National Clinical Research Award from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Pikula has published more than 80 high-impact scientific papers and attracted more than 17 million dollars in funding from philanthropy, national, and international grant agencies such as the NIH, CIHR, HSFC and CSC. She currently serves as a Chair of the World Stroke Organization - GENESIS (Gender Equity and Diversity in Stroke Care) Committee, as well as a professional member on numerous research, clinical practice, education, and professional committees within organizations such as the American Heart Association, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada, the Canadian Stroke Consortium, the European Lifestyle Medicine Organization, and the American Academy of Neurology. She is also a founding member of the Global Brain Care Coalition.
To achieve proficiency in the field of lifestyle medicine and while developing person-centric programming that is currently being examined as a model of care at UHN (funded by MOH/IFPOC), she also obtained a subspeciality certificate in Lifestyle Medicine from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and certificates in Clinical Nutrition Science at Stanford University, Plant-Based Nutrition at Cornell University and Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice at the Institute for Functional Medicine & Precision Nutrition Coaching Certificate. She is also leading the Brain Health Program at Paving the Path to Wellness Curriculum (Boston, USA).
Beyond her clinical and research endeavors, Dr. Pikula is a passionate advocate for wellness within workplaces and local communities worldwide. She actively participates in influential well-being initiatives, drawing inspiration from the lifestyle principles observed in the Blue Zones. She leads several BZ-based programs in collaboration with authentic partners from Ikaria, Costa Rica, and Sardinia. Originally from Croatia, Dr. Pikula currently resides in Toronto with her husband and son, and a playful Australian labradoodle. Her family's shared passions include travel, cultural immersion, diverse cuisines, and reconnecting with friends and family in Europe whenever possible. Additionally, she enjoys cooking, reading, practicing yoga, meditation, and embarking on long hikes with family and friends. She lives by the authenticity of women's empowerment and strongly values the power of vulnerability in enriching social connections and discovering one's purpose.
