Louis was born on May 5th, 1934 in Zlin, Czechoslovakia to the late Louis Pikula Sr. and Mildred Davidkova and emigrated to the US in 1939. Louis grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated in 1952 from West Technical High School. With no plans for college, Louis began working at a chemical plant after graduation. His work there convinced him to pursue a career in medicine. In December of 1956, while finishing his last year of college at John Carroll University, Louis was accepted to Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. In 1957, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from John Carroll University. During medical school Louis developed an increasing interest in Neuroscience, particularly Neurosurgery. During his medical school years, he met and married his loving wife Betty.
After graduation in June of 1961, he served an internship at Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital. With the support of Dr. Robert White, his interest in neurosurgery increased immensely. He returned to Winston Salem, NC and completed his residency training in 1968, under Dr. Eben Alexander.
Dr. Pikula joined the Army Reserves and was called to serve in Vietnam as the Chief of Neurosurgery at both the 312th evacuation hospital at Chi Lai and the 8th field hospital in Nha Trang. In retrospect his military experience, although unpleasant, proved invaluable. He was discharged from the Army with the proud rank of Major. In late 1969, Dr. Pikula joined Dr. Ernesto De la Torre and helped cultivate a very active Department of Neurosurgery at Forsyth Medical Center where he served on a number of local, county and state medical committees. Dr. Pikula was a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Southern Neurological Society, North Carolina Neurosurgical Society, the American Medical Association, the North Carolina Medical Association, and Forsyth, Davie and Stokes County Medical Societies. In addition, Dr. Pikula was a fellow in the American Board of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Pikula was also a talented author, a passionate teacher and a devoted public servant. Dr. Pikula has co- authored several articles in medical journals. Dr. Pikula officially retired from performing neurosurgery in 2000, in order to spend time with his family and especially his grandchildren. In 2002 and 2003 he taught a few days a week at BGSM medical school, as well as serving at the Community Care Clinic which provides medical care to those who have little to no access to healthcare. Dr. Pikula was truly a dedicated individual, devoting much of his time to his family, his patients and the community.
Dr. Pikula was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jerry Pikula, his loving wife Betty who passed away on February, 24th 2022, and his youngest son James (Tami) who passed away suddenly on October 27th, 2021. He is survived by his son Louis (Janet) Pikula, III, of Advance and daughter Chrissy (Danny) Bass of Winston Salem.; grandchildren, Louis Pikula IV of Augusta Ga, and Rochester NY, Dr. Julia (Patrick) Pikula Clark, of Greenville, SC. Joseph Bass of Winston Salem, and Anna Bass of Greenville, NC.
Service will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday July 2, 2022 at Vogler Funeral & Cremations at Forsyth Memorial Park. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. A private interment will take place at a later date.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff of Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home for the care Dr. Pikula received prior to his passing.
Memorials may be made to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane Winston Salem, NC 27103 or to the Community Care Center, 2135 New Walkertown Road, Winston Salem, NC 27101.
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