Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Robert D Pilkinton Sr., MD attended David Lipscomb College and the University of Tennessee, where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in pharmacy. In 1963, he received his medical degree and later completed his internship at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Pilkinton started his private practice in 1965 and later became affiliated with Nashville Memorial Hospital, where he served on the board and established his family practice. He is currently affiliated with Skyline Medical Center, where he also served on the Board. He joined TriStar Skyline Primary Care in March 2013.
In the community, he has served for 25 years as Goodpasture School's team physician and is currently presiding on their board. He has been married to Billie Teeple Pilkinton for sixty years and has three children - Dana Wolfe, Dr. Dale Pilkinton and Daree Merritt, along with eleven grandchildren.