Joseph C. Maroon, MD, is the Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience and vice chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also director of the Tri-State Neurosurgical Associates and team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Sports Medicine and Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Maroon is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and his clinical and research interests include the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures for the spine and brain and the prevention and treatment of traumatic injuries to the central nervous system, among others.
Dr. Maroon, along with neuropsychologist, Mark Lovell, PhD, co-developed ImPACT — Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing — the first computerized system to determine concussion severity and the timing for return to contact sports. It is the standard of care for concussion management in the National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and NASCAR.
"I operate three days a week, and I love what I do — there's nothing better," said Maroon in a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review report. "We make such an immediate improvement in peoples' lives (in neurosurgery), but all of my professional career has been spent fixing cars after they're broke, in essence. And I think that's what our healthcare system is based on — fixing problems after they occur. For the last eight to 10 years, I've been much more proactive in trying to prevent disease and prevent problems."
Dr. Maroon earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he also completed his residency in neurological surgery. He also received microneurosurgery training at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
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