Dr. Joseph Maroon

Dr. Joseph Maroon Joseph C. Maroon, M.D., Neurosurgeon, is regarded as a premiere specialist in the surgical treatment of injuries and diseases of the brain.

Maroon, M.D., Neurosurgeon, Vice Chairman and Professor of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, is regarded as a premiere specialist in the surgical treatment of injuries and diseases of the brain and spine. Dr. Maroon is also recognized as a sports medicine innovator, an expert in personal fitness and endurance, diet and nutritional supplements, i

nflammation diagnosis and treatment, as well as a respected product development advisor, author and industry spokesperson.

PRESS RELEASE: Coach Doug Phillips, long-time winning Head Coach at Youngstown State University and Assistant Coach, Mik...
08/13/2026

PRESS RELEASE: Coach Doug Phillips, long-time winning Head Coach at Youngstown State University and Assistant Coach, Mike Tomczak, former Steelers quarterback, invited Dr. Joseph Maroon this Wednesday (8/12) to speak personally to the YSU football team about his personal football experiences with college and NFL football.

Dr. Maroon was a Scholastic All-American in football at last year’s National Championship team, Indiana University, and subsequent long-time team neurosurgeon to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He and Dr. Mark Lovell developed the imPACT neurocognitive test which has become a standard of care in the NFL and all levels of contact sports and used over 25 million times.

Besides football, Dr. Maroon emphasized the importance of family, spirituality and academics and provided a formula for the players to attain "work-life" balance from his bestselling book, "Square One: A Simple Guide to a Balanced Life".

Dr. Maroon stated that it is not whether you win or lose but the character with which you play the game of football - and life. He emphasized not to soar too high with their wins and successes nor plummet too low with defeats, but as Aristotle said, “hit the mean (balance) between extremes.” Even more succinctly, he urged the players to follow the dictum of Coach Mike Tomlin, who frequently urged the Steelers to "be humble in victory and gracious in defeat."

Pictured: Dr. Maroon with Head Coach Doug Phillips and Assistant Coach, Mike Tomczak

PRESS RELEASE: On Wednesday, August 5th, Dr. Joseph Maroon was the annual Threshold Series invited speaker at St. Vincen...
08/07/2026

PRESS RELEASE: On Wednesday, August 5th, Dr. Joseph Maroon was the annual Threshold Series invited speaker at St. Vincent College.

In 1981 a grant from the Kennametal Foundation established the Threshold Series at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. The purpose is to bring in notable scholars, artists, and public figures to the campus to spark intellectual curiosity. Notable past speakers included astronomer, Carl Sagan; author, Isaac Asimov; Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy, Jr and author and Rabbi, Harold Kushner.

Dr. Maroon, Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Neurosurgery at UPMC is widely recognized for his contributions in sports medicine and the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries. He spoke to an audience of over 300 students, faculty, St. Vincent alumni, and members of the local community. He shared his recent research with Dr Pravat Mandal on the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy to diagnose Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and traumatic encephalopathy in former NFL, NHL players and combat warriors Navy Seals and Army rangers.

His primary topic was “How to Die Young… As Late As Possible”, as discussed in his best-selling book, Square One – A Simple Guide to a Balanced Life.

Image: Dr. Maroon and Father Paul Taylor O.S.B. PhD (President of St. Vincent College, Latrobe PA)

To view the lecture, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdW9kJdUx5o

Press Release: Pennsylvania Neurosurgical Society Meeting, Hershey, PADr. Joseph Maroon was the keynote speaker for the ...
07/20/2026

Press Release: Pennsylvania Neurosurgical Society Meeting, Hershey, PA

Dr. Joseph Maroon was the keynote speaker for the 113 annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Neurosurgical Society in Hershey, PA. Dr. Maroon spoke on "Creativity and Artificial Intelligence in Neurosurgery". He summarized his work with cryo-immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer, the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injury and enhanced recovery and performance in sports.

He also discussed the ongoing clinical trials with Dr. Pravat Mandal, Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology at UPMC. They are currently enrolling former NFL and NHL players, Navy SEALs and combat warriors who have experienced multiple traumatic hits to the head.

They are using magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify a deficiency of glutathione, the main antioxidant in the brain. They have previously shown this to be the case in Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s diseases. They then will treat with a precursor of glutathione similar to treating Parkinson's Disease with L-Dopa, a precursor to dopamine that crosses the blood brain barrier.

Visit my website for updates, to be connected to our e-newsletter, and to view my latest Blog post: "Dr. Joseph Maroon t...
07/16/2026

Visit my website for updates, to be connected to our e-newsletter, and to view my latest Blog post: "Dr. Joseph Maroon to Lecture at St. Vincent College on Aug 5, 2026"...

https://www.josephmaroon.com/blog/dr-joseph-maroon-to-lecture-at-st-vincent-college-on-aug-5-2026/

Dr. Joseph Maroon, Neurosurgeon, Concussion Expert and Wellness Advocate has been invited this year to present the Threshold Lecture: Entitled – Success, Failure, Creativity, and the “Secret” to Longevity.

When: August 5, 2026 | 7 p.m.
Where: Performing Arts Center at the Robert S. Carey Student Center
Admission is free of charge.

Press Release: Drs. Maroon and Miele visiting professors at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia Univers...
07/13/2026

Press Release: Drs. Maroon and Miele visiting professors at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute West Virginia University

On July 10th, Drs. Joseph Maroon and Vincent Miele were the invited visiting professors at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Maroon, the first team appointed Steeler neurosurgeon in the NFL, and Dr. Miele, presently consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers, shared their observations and experiences in sports medicine in a presentation entitled, “Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries in Sports – Past, Present and Future”.

They also met individually with the Neurosurgical Residents and various faculty including Dr. Ali Rezai, internationally recognized pioneer in focused ultrasound noninvasive treatment of the brain and Neuromodualtiion; Peter Konrad, MD, chairman of the department of neurosurgery; David Adelson, MD former UPMC faculty and now chief of pediatric neurosurgery at the WVU Tom Golisono Children's Hospital; and Javier Cardenas, MD chair of neurology.

The Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute is comprised of a dedicated multidisciplinary group of clinicians, scientists, engineers, clinical trial specialists and research staff focused on translational clinical trials.

Unlike in many institutions, the leadership at the departmental and University level have cooperated to break down the “silos” that exist in many Universities. All departments of Neuroscience are brought together under one umbrella in the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute headed by Dr. Ali Rezai, executive chair.

first photo: Drs. Joseph Maroon and Vincent Miele
second photo: Dr. Maroon meeting with the Neurosurgical residents at WVU

07/07/2026

Read the full study: https://www.ovid.com/10.1227/neu.0000...
Learn more about Dr. Maroon: https://www.josephmaroon.com/category/blog/

Dr. Joseph Maroon, renowned neurosurgeon and concussion expert, discusses his newly published study on neurotrauma in Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) and Fast Boat Operators (FBOs). These elite operators endure thousands of high-G impacts while traveling 50 to 60 mph over rough water for hours at a time, exposing them to a serious and often overlooked risk of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury.

In this study of 245 fast boat operators, nearly half of respondents had been medically diagnosed with a TBI. Yet compared with the level of neurocognitive symptoms reported, relatively few had received a formal diagnosis, pointing to a hidden burden of brain injury in this population. Dr. Maroon explains what the findings mean for the physicians who care for these operators, why vigilance around post-concussion symptoms matters, and how enforcing return to duty protocols and safety measures can help protect them.

This research marks the beginning of a multi-year effort to launch prospective studies using imaging, biochemical, and cognitive testing to define the true burden of neurotrauma among fast boat operators.

Published in Neurosurgery (2026).

Dr. Joseph Maroon, Clinical Professor and Vice Chair of Neurosurgery was the visiting professor at the University of Mic...
07/06/2026

Dr. Joseph Maroon, Clinical Professor and Vice Chair of Neurosurgery was the visiting professor at the University of Michigan on July 1st and 2nd, 2026. He gave two presentations to the Faculty and Residents.

1. Success, failure, and creativity in Neurosurgery - The importance of Kai Zen and serendipity.

2. Spinal and brain injuries in sports – past present and future.

He spent the day meeting and counseling Neurosurgical Residents and visiting the outstanding facilities at the University of Michigan where pioneer neurosurgeons Drs Richard Schneider, Buzz Hof and Karin Muraszko have had an immense impact on Neurosurgery and on Dr. Maroon's career in sports medicine.

He was hosted by Resident Dr. Mark Zaki, former University of Pittsburgh graduate, and Chairman, Dr. Aditya Pandey, nationally recognized expert in endovascular treatment of stroke and aneurysms, and a pioneer in focused ultrasound of the brain.

The 4th Annual Joseph C. Maroon, MD Aequanimitas Lecture took place today, June 19th in the Magovern Auditorium at Alleg...
06/19/2026

The 4th Annual Joseph C. Maroon, MD Aequanimitas Lecture took place today, June 19th in the Magovern Auditorium at Allegheny General Hospital, where Dr. Regis Haid was the distinguished Keynote Speaker.

Established by Dr. Maroon’s generous endowment, this lectureship celebrates physician wellness centered on William Osler’s concept of “Aequanimitas” – the ability to remain calm and composed under pressure, vital in neurosurgery. Each year, the AHN Neuroscience Institute recognizes a neurosurgery faculty member or resident who exemplifies these principles. Today’s speaker, Regis W. Haid, MD (Chair, Innovation Council, Medtronic Cranial and Spinal) spoke on “Finding True North” and merging the physical, spiritual, familial and professional facets of life into a “harmonious” balance.

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